Thank you for your interest in participating in this Acting Out for ALS film project. Our goals are to give those graduating seniors affected by the coronavirus pandemic a chance to share their thoughts and experiences, as well as raising money for our core mission of supporting those battling ALS in our communities. If we receive enough responses, we plan to release the film in the second half of May 2021.
You can use the questions below as writing prompts (answer any or all), or you can write your own thoughts independently of these questions as they relate to the topic of being at the end of your high school career during the pandemic. There is no minimum or maximum length for your replies -- say as little or as much as you want, with as much honesty as you’re comfortable expressing. You will have the option of remaining anonymous if you prefer. Please submit your replies by Sunday, March 14, 2021 to actingoutforalsinfo@gmail.com, or by mail to Acting Out for ALS, 16226 Rawlings Heights Drive, Rawlings, Maryland 21557.
(Optional) Your name, age, and school attended:
Would you be willing to appear on camera? (A “yes” answer is not required for continued participation or to have your work included in the final project.)
What were your first thoughts when you heard about COVID-19 in early 2020?
What were your thoughts about the initial closings of schools, businesses, etc.?
How seriously did you take the health concerns at first?
Did your position on that change over time? If so, in what ways? If not, why not?
What sorts of discussions did you and your family members have with each other about taking precautions (or not)?
At what point did you realize that the end of the 2019-2020 school year would be different than any other? How did that make you feel?
How did your parents or other family members take the news? What sorts of discussions did you have with them?
How did your classmates take the news? What sorts of discussions did you have with them?
If you’re a 2020 graduate, how did you celebrate this milestone, and how might it have been different if there were no restrictions (or would it have been mostly the same)?
If you’re a 2021 senior, how much hope did you hold out over the summer for a “normal” school year?
How have your friendships been affected during this time?
What has been your educational experience during the pandemic (remote learning, in-person at private schools, etc.)? Describe the challenges or advantages you’ve encountered as a result.
What positive things have happened as a result of the pandemic-related changes?
Were you or anyone in your family or close circle diagnosed with COVID-19? If so, what was your/their experience?
Follow-up: Did that experience change how you interacted with the rest of the world? (i.e. going out more/less, more/less care in masking/sanitizing/etc.)
How was your mental health impacted through this?
What are some things you want graduates of other classes in other years to know about how this has affected you?
Anything else you feel is relevant to the topic?