Life is a gift that everyone has and many people take for granted. Sometimes, people do not realize how precious it is. Students Hannah Snyder, Claire Nero, and Shannon Good wanted to make this known to everyone. Because of this, they created the short film called “A Life Unlived,” which brings awareness to drug and alcohol abuse.
REACH (Respecting Each other And Cultural Harmony) program will show “A Life Unlived” through BlackHawk TV on the Projectors during the 40-minute homeroom on Thursday, Jan. 16. A teacher-lead discussion in each homeroom will follow.
Mrs. Hornfeck, a Bethel Park health teacher, said, ” ‘A Life Unlived’ has won awards and is an excellent and accurate portrayal of what happens at parties where underage alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse is present.”
Along with portraying the after effects of drug and alcohol abuse, the video hopes to have a major effect on people.
Mrs. Hornfeck said, “Our main objective is to hopefully encourage students to think about their choices and not be influenced, pressured, or bullied into dangerous situations.”
This video is also considered inspiring because it was made by teens for teens. It also shows situations that teens can face everyday.
“A Life Unlived” also aims to help teens understand different ways to avoid drug and alcohol abuse.
Mrs. Hornfeck said the advice the video is trying to give students is, “Think, learn boundaries, seek and learn the art of refusal skills and common sense for a healthy life”
Even with this advice the video gives, many students still might not know what to do if they or a friend are abusing drugs or alcohol.
To this common question, Mrs. Hornfeck said, “Students who are abusing chemicals, others or themselves, can obtain help by telling an appropriate adult in their life; parent, principal, Officer Modrak, counselors, teachers and coaches. Don’t give up; keep asking for help until they get it.”
Teens today need to understand the importance of how precious life is. If someone is abusing it by doing drugs or alcohol, then they need someone to help them learn how important their life is to others.
Hopefully through this video, teens will understand the importance and fight to stop drug and alcohol abuse.
A link to the video can be found here.
