A Supportive Environment for a Creative 12-Year-Old Cosplayer

Our Sci-Tech Academy journey began in Spring 2021. Our temple held a Zoom meeting with numerous URJ camps and congregants to get to know each other. We were early to login, as was JD Mallindine. JD immediately recognized Rita’s background as a character from a math computer game and from then on, Rita knew they had to be at Sci-Tech Academy.

Rita tried another URJ Camp first, but it was not a good fit – “too much walking!!” Next summer was instead a session at Sci-Tech Academy, and it was the perfect fit. Rita is unique. Not only are they gender fluid (“85% female; 15% cosplay character”), they also reside on the autism spectrum, manage their ADHD, have an amazing memory, and are a quick learner. At school, Rita is often bored in class, having learned and mastered the subject the first time it was taught. Rita is also teased by classmates as they share a wealth of knowledge about anime, especially Pokémon. As Rita reports, “Sci-Tech is a place where you get to show your identity and be accepted.”

During the school year, we all cope as Rita must mask and tone down who they are  just to fit in at school. At Sci-Tech Academy, Rita gets to be true to themself and know they are accepted and safe. They also get to enjoy any and all technology they want to explore. Their second summer at Sci-Tech Academy, Rita was the only non-male in the video game design class, but that did not matter. No one made them feel awkward about it. They were all just kids who wanted to learn how to design video games; they were equal. Rita says, “SciTech has helped me learn about myself, my heritage and the world.”

At Sci-Tech Academy, campers are exposed to so many amazing and creative minds who are leading the classes, and the classes take place in state-of-the-art classrooms. Many campers may experience resources at Sci-Tech Academy that are better than what they have at school. It is not just science and technology all the time; campers also have active time, and Rita loves their dance opportunities at Sci-Tech Academy. In Rita’s words, “the people at Sci-Tech Academy accept that I am a cosplayer and support me. They do not laugh or stare at me. I get to freely express my interest and creativity at Sci-Tech Academy. It is my home-away-from-home.”

The YES Fund helps make Sci-Tech Academy a possibility for so many girls and nonbinary kids to explore STEM in a safe, supportive environment that they may not get to experience anywhere else in their lives. Thanks to the YES Fund, these kids have a place where they can be themselves and learn about science, technology, Judaism, and a world filled with different ideas that they may have never experienced if it were not for this support. Who knows what future scientists are getting their inspiration while spending their summer in Byfield, MA thanks to WRJ?!?! That’s what I think about as I send a YES card or wear my lifeline pin.