
Families Love 'Be Someone'
The ‘Be Someone’ program has made believers out of other family members besides parents. Iolen Oliveira, Diego and Alejandro’s mom, offers a strong testimony for what learning the game of chess at the hands of teacher and mentor Orrin Hudson has done for her boys (see previous entry on the Home Page). But here’s a grandmother, Diane Daniels Adoma, who is “all in” after seeing what ‘Be Someone’ has done for her three grandchildren, Taylor, Naomi, and Kingsley. Here is her story.
I first learned of this program in 2017. My grandkids then were very young, 7, 10, and 11. I wanted to find a program that would help them apply critical thinking skills using a fun activity or game. At first, they did not want to go so it took parental encouragement. We told them to give it a try and then we would discuss the options. Seven years and hundreds of chess games later, this is what they say about what they have learned: Taylor, “Chess is fun!” Naomi, “I’ve met new friends.” Kingsley, “I love it!”
We as a family are so pleased with the results. We have seen an improvement in their decision-making skills when choosing peers and independent study habits. All are in honors or advanced classes. One will be heading to college soon to study immunology, one just returned from Japan learning about the culture, and one is studying music.
I am convinced the ‘Be Someone’ program is life changing. Incarceration rates are so high for kids making the wrong moves (as Orrin says). What kids learn here is there are consequences for their actions and Orrin’s teaching and mentoring style makes their learning fun. Sometimes good decisions are painful. None of our children have had negative life-changing experiences but they are not immune. Chess has taught them to gather their thoughts first then think critically. I want all young people to soar and be the leaders of tomorrow. This program provides the tools to help them do that.
I have become one of ‘Be Someone’s’ and Orrin’s biggest advocates. I volunteer and have even served as an emcee at some of the events and I have recruited other kids to participate. Two of them, Jonathan and Marissa, have joined my own kids in praising the chess experience. Jonathan asked me to buy him his own chess set and Marissa loves the game enough to tell me, “I want to learn more.”
Whenever I have the opportunity, this is what I tell other parents about enrolling their children: This is a safe, fun environment and it affords an opportunity to meet great mentors, elected community officials, and other community leaders who support the program. And this is especially important, it provides peace of mind knowing that I helped my children learn a game that is literally a positive life changer and that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Let me add one note about my personal story that has relevance here. I went from being a high school dropout and teenage mother with no critical thinking skills. I went from GED to PhD. I learned the hard way. I truly believe chess, as taught through the ‘Be Someone’ program, can help prevent many of the same mistakes I made as a young person because it teaches kids to think before they make a mistake.
Although I keep trying to beat Orrin Hudson, I don’t play with the three grandkids. Why? They are too good!
(Note: Diane Daniels Adoma PhD, is the president and CEO of Diane Adoma Consulting LLC, which provides communications and administrative and professional management and training.)
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