ONCE considered a troublemaker and a misfit, a local high school student has a new lease on life thanks to a Griffith youth club.
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Dayne Bowen used not to fit in at school and had trouble making friends, but since being diagnosed with autism and helping out at the Griffith PCYC he has flourished.
Dayne lends a hand with vacation and after-school and said he gets along better with younger kids than his peers.
“Basically I’m a backup for anything whether it’s helping with food preparation, dressing up or having a wrestle with the little kids – I’m always found at the bottom of the pack,” Dayne said.
“I think the kids like that I’m friends with them even though I look like an adult and I see myself in the little kids, I really enjoy it.”
Dayne is also completing his bronze Duke of Edinburgh and went to a PCYC leadership and citizenship camp in Berri last week.
Dayne said being diagnosed with autism and ADHD was only one step in transforming his life and said the PCYC has been just as important.
“Before I was diagnosed everyone just thought I was a naughty kid but then two years ago when I was diagnosed I started getting the help I needed and I got a different understanding of myself,” he said.
“The PCYC keeps me out of trouble because I have to help out a lot and I am doing my Duke of Edinburgh so I have to spend lots of hours volunteering.
“A little bit of everyone could benefit from the PCYC in all different ways and it’s really multicultural so I suggest everyone give it a go."