Kids Like Me
by Jack DiMento
The most meaningful way that I believe I’ve improved the lives of others is by working for an organization that drastically improved mine. In the summer of 2011, I began attending a camp in Natick, Creative Adventures, that was designed for children who needed help developing their self esteem and social skills.
The author - shown here in July of 2011.
As a child, I was very introverted, and had a very hard time being social and finding a sense of belonging. At Creative Adventures, I met kids who were like me; kids who were quirky, and had atypical ways of communicating and expressing themselves. That was somewhere where I felt a genuine sense of community. I felt like they accepted me without any expectation that I was going to change who I was to accommodate the group.
I’ve attended Creative Adventures every single summer since then, working there the past 3 years as a counselor. Every summer, I see kids who are exactly like I was: awkward, uncomfortable, looking for a sense of fulfillment. Now, through recreational activities, crafts, and performing arts, I get to help those kids find things they enjoy, and see them express themselves in ways they never would have thought they could.
The author and fellow camper turned counselor, Chris Miller, in 2013.
"I want to give those kids the same thing that my counselors gave me almost a decade ago: the knowledge that they’re all beautiful, funny, and creative in ways that are truly irreplicable."
I can’t count the number of kids I’ve gotten to interact with over the years. Some were as young as eight, while some were teenagers, but I took pride in helping and befriending all of them. I want to give those kids the same thing that my counselors gave me almost a decade ago: the knowledge that they’re all beautiful, funny, and creative in ways that are truly irreplicable. My experiences at camp, as a camper and a counselor, have shaped who I am today, and are key reasons why I want to continue to work with young people as an educator.
The author, under interrogation, during a 2014 performing arts activity.
LARP week, 2018
The author (4th from left) in 2019, showing all the dignity one would expect from a member of our staff.
Jack DiMento will be entering Stonehill College as a freshman this September. He submitted this essay as part of a scholarship application. Needless to say, he got the scholarship.
We are so proud of Jack, his perseverance and accomplishments are an example for us all. We Also could not agree more with Jack in that The staff and friends he has met and the relationships he has developed at Academy Metrowest are irreplaceable and played a huge roll in the amazing young man he is today. There is no doubt, that as soon as jack started at AMW all those years ago we knew he had found his place and we never looked back. We believe it is The truly special people At AMW that creates this incredibly inclusive and engaging culture and The consistency over the years has been incredible. Absolutely one of the best decisions we ever made. Thank you all so much.
Congratulations Jack… this is quite an accomplishment. Reading your essay paints a picture of what this academy has meant to you as a young boy. I know that your experiences there have given you a tender place in your heart for children who express themselves differently. I know your Mom and Dad and all the family are extremely proud of you. May God bless and keep you safe.
Congratulations Jack! What a great story and great adventures ahead for you. Good luck at Stonehill
Congrats and as I always knew “the quirky kids” rule!!