jrowe

NÆ°á»›c (Water)

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My entry explores the nature of water and how it relates back to us. Water is malleable and flexible, meaning that anyone can bend and mold it to whatever shape they like. Similarly, parents bend and mold their children. From the moment they are born, parents guide them towards a better direction. However, as children grow up, they may feel controlled or insecure. These negative thoughts can bubble up in silence, leaving them vulnerable. The goal of my entry is to tell youth that the challenges of meeting your parents’ lofty expectations, especially in Vietnamese culture, should not define them. The expectations we think are from our parents may actually be amplified by our own expectations for ourselves. And, sometimes, they can be more unforgiving. Youth need to reexamine their way of thinking and never forget, at the end of the day, they are their parents’ child. No matter what, their parents will always be proud of them.

Ang Isip

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In my film, “Ang Isip” (meaning The Mind), I showcase the experience that comes with being an Asian-American high school student, where school and family come together to create a giant ball of stresses that leave us reminiscing about our childhood. In a world where we are isolated and alone, where no one understands the complex feelings that we go through every minute of every day, there are many aspects of the mind that make our reality feel like this. And with the romanticization of everything around us, our sadness feels consuming and excruciating to go through. This film highlights that experience in hopes of telling others who look like me and share this culture that they are not alone.

There is Still Hope

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A friend spots the signs of suicide and confronts her friend. She helps get her to an adult.

Suicide PSA

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Know the signs! A young man is struggling with his mental health. His friends sees that he is showing signs of suicide and steps in to help him.

No Longer Alone

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Our entry to this PSA was because of a school project. We looked at the different categories and thought suicide prevention was a category that we can do to help bring awareness to it.

Interconnections

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Our film is about two best friends hanging out, when all of the sudden, one friend says she needs to leave abruptly. You notice that both friends are bonded through a green string, showing their connection. Her friend gets concerned and feels the way their interaction ended wasn’t quite right. She decides to then search through the entire night to find her and make sure she is okay. The friend follows the green string, but becomes more confused and concerned by the second. She doesn’t know where these strings are leading and she is beginning to lose hope. She then looks up, noticing her friend in the distance. She runs towards her, grabbing her friend’s shoulder and proceeds to ask her if she wants to talk about what is going on. The friend then smiles back, glad she finally has someone to talk to. Our film then ends in the two friends standing together, looking towards the sunrise, showing a new beginning and a stronger connection.

Reach Out

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A concerned friend reaches out to their friend in need to offer support. She notices her friend displaying signs of depression and hopelessness. No matter how much she was pushed away she was determined to get her friend the appropriate help she needs. In the end, reaching out for help together. This video is an attempt to show the different signs of suicide amongst teenagers, and how to offer your support. We as the filmmakers understand this problem is not as easy as we made it seem but we hope that our film brings light to the signs and helps push people to seek help.

Seeing Through

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This video represents the struggle of identifying suicide in a personal, especially if it’s someone close to you… like a sibling or friend. In this submission, a younger sister sees through her brother’s physical presence and wants to talk to him about it. She finally goes to confront him about it and they manage to get a chance to properly talk.

Finding the light

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We are students at Ramona High School, and this is our first year collaborating with the Mental Awareness and Wellness Center on our campus. Our decision to join this initiative stems from our personal experiences with mental health challenges, which are common among high school students. Our video focuses on suicide awareness because we have witnessed peers seeking help or struggling to find the right support. This specific video focuses on the depression, anxiety and emptiness that can make students feel in a loop, going through the day without actually being in the right head set. As peer educators, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the resources available on our campus. This enables us to guide ourselves and other students at Ramona High School to trusted adults who can provide the necessary support.