Dynamy Youth Academy graduates have been successful in many ways. Here are just a few stories about some of these special individuals.

I was born in the Bronx, New York, on August 30, 1984. At an early age, I was separated from my mother due to the bad living situation in New York. My godmother took me to Worcester, Mass., to live with my grandmother and my aunt. In the fall of 1991, I enrolled in Belmont Community Street School. While there ,I maintained good grades and earned several Books and Beyond medals for reading. Then, in June of 1996, I graduated from Belmont Community Street School.

Lance Corporal James (Jimmy) Lamboy joined the Marine Corps in March of 2001. A member of Dynamy's Youth Academy (formerly named John S. Laws Institute) Class of 1999, he now serves with the military police and plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.

His life wasn't always as disciplined as it is in the Marines. Following his parents' divorce, Jimmy found himself in the role of caretaker for his younger siblings. He wasn't forced into the role--he was just a special kid who cared deeply about his family. He learned at an early age that education was one of the keys to success. Although only one other person in his family had ever completed high school, Jimmy set himself a goal not only to finish high school but also to be the first in his family to attend college. He liked school and was a bright, promising student, but his family responsibilities sometimes interfered with school. He wasn't sure how to get there, but he was determined. He wanted to become a role model for his brothers and sisters.