Scout of the Month: Who is Jarom Bennett?

All About Jarom:

Jarom was shy about leaving Heavenly Father’s side and took six years to arrive in our home. Because of the trials we went through, we called him our miracle baby. He was born in Bellflower and almost named Zackary. Jarom was a very large baby with a large head. His nickname was “the brain”. He was a healthy eater and always had both his fists full of food.
He likes video games, baseball, basketball and mountain biking. Jarom loves his siblings and plays with them all the time. He is an artist, and dedicates more time then he should to drawing and reading books about drawing. At the insistence of his parents, Jarom reluctantly played the flute and now practices the piano. He also likes to wear a Boston Red Sox hat in Angel country and has been known to appear as the Easter Bunny on occasion.
Today, Jarom is a Life Scout with 38 merit badges and preparing for his Eagle Project. It was not so long ago he began his interest in scouting.
At age three, he insisted on hiking by himself 2.5 miles to Hoegees. The outdoors, hiking and camping, have always been enjoyable to Jarom.
He grew up fast and began cub scouts with more enthusiasm then his little body could hold. As a Cub Scout, he wanted to earn as many awards as possible. Sister Garcia, his Committee Chairperson, asked how many activities there were in total to earn arrow points. Jarom knew exactly how many and blurted out the answer to her surprise.


Pinewood derbies were not kind to Jarom, and his father was no help. His first attempt was poor - so Jarom decided to use his pinewood derby car and the track for a school science project. After using scientific methods, Jarom found out that the weight in the back makes the car faster. His science project did not make it to the district finals, but he was armed with prize-winning information. He was sure his second and final pinewood derby would have different results. He came in dead last. His first regatta race had the same poor results. The following year Jarom’s luck was changing. “Could this year be different for his last regatta race?” Jarom’s dad upped his game and found a blue print for a winning regatta. Jarom cut and painted the regatta according to the new design. Jarom finally won his first race in Cub Scouts and received a 1st place ribbon.
Since he was the only Webelo in our ward, he attended the El Cerrito’s ward. He finished his Cub Scout life by earning the Arrow of Light.
He started his first year in Scouting and kept a busy pace. Jarom earned his Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class Ranks after his 7th month in Scouts. By the time he turned Twelve, he had earned his Star Rank.
He was all by himself in the Deacon’s quorum. After many prayers, the Smethursts moved into the ward and Jarom was no longer lonely. Now Jarom has six quorum members with him and loves going on outings with all of them.
Both Jarom and his brother, Joshua, adore Marcus Piquet. It is always, “Brother Piquet said” or “Brother Piquet did”. Now, Jarom’s dad has to compete with a new and fully loaded boxcar.

As a Boy Scout, Jarom has operated a motor boat, fished, hiked 25 miles in the Anza Borrego Willows, hiked 10 miles through snow and water to Switzer Falls, survived one week of Camp Emerson’s food, been bounced around on Silverwood Lake, slept in a snow cave, pitch a tent at the top of a waterfall, shot black powered rifles, and been on a Bridge to Nowhere. In Jarom’s mind, it has been a slice of Heaven.