What Is The Documentary Assignment?
“In what ways can storytelling be used to capture the importance of a person, movement, location, belief, or challenge within a community?”
In the Junior Documentary Project, students will use narrative driven storytelling across multiple forms of media to examine a meaningful person, movement, location, belief, or challenge. Through interviews, research, and source analysis, they will explore both firsthand accounts and outside perspectives to develop an original understanding of why their topic matters within the community and the wider world. The paper written in English will then serve as the foundation for a magazine feature in Design, and website.
My Topic Inspiration:
For my documentary project, I wanted to highlight the often unseen work caseworkers at LifeMoves do to support unhoused families and children. My documentary, Emotional First Responders: Transforming Lives Through Nurturing the Whole Human Being, was inspired by my experience volunteering with Lorinda and Nora for the past three years. From starting as a camp counselor before freshman year because it sounded fun to now, 200 hours and 3 years later, I’m leading a team of high school volunteers during the school year because I love seeing every kid find curiosity and creativity at their time at LifeMoves. As I introduced more MVHS students to LifeMoves, I realized how little public awareness there is around the emotional labor caseworkers carry behind the scenes. This led me to profile Lorinda and Nora, exploring what caseworkers do, why they do it, and the emotional challenges and burnout they often face while supporting others every day.
Reflection On The Book
Wow!! I can’t believe this book is finally done. After a few late nights (currently writing this at 2 a.m.), there were moments when I thought it would never end, but I’m really proud of how it all came together. Learning about what caseworkers actually do was both exciting and eye opening to learn about what caseworkers actually do, and then bringing those stories to life through combining writing and photography was a wholesome process.
Prior to this project, I hadn’t fully understood the depth of the work they do or how much of it happens quietly, behind the scenes. I met Nora, Lorinda, and Irene, my interviewees, through volunteering at LifeMoves. After spending just a few hours with the kids, having the best time ever, but immediately needing a nap, I became curious about what drives them to do this extremely fulfilling yet exhausting and unrecognized work. Even after volunteering with kids at LifeMoves for more than 150 hours, what was truly amazing about this process was learning about the sheer amount of hidden work they do. From creating lesson plans and comforting the kids to picking up food for dinner, these women extend their jobs beyond just casework; they are emotional first responders.
More than anything, I hope this book encourages people to learn more about their own communities, get involved in helping the next generation of kids, and appreciate the emotional first responders in their lives. After hearing the amount of care, dedication, and emotional energy that goes into these roles, I can confidently say I’ll be writing a lot more thank-you letters.
Reflection On The Writing Process
This documentary writing expanded my view of myself as a writer. Prior to this, I hadn’t had the opportunity to write about a topic I cared so deeply about raising awareness for. Because of the firsthand experience with the people and stories I was covering, I became slightly obsessed over every detail, sneaking to my computer after bed because of a late night thought or recording thoughts on runs, I began to view this writing as a challenge I genuinely wanted to solve.
Inspired by the many different and heart touching stories, I became more experimental in my process, writing wildly different outlines and focusing on different aspects of my interviews to push past writer’s block that usually paralyzes me. What I loved most was blending narrative and research together, starting with research to shape my interview questions, then letting the interviews guide my article and finding evidence to bolster their voices. This was my first time balancing interviews, narrative, and research in one piece. While I wish I had incorporated more of my own voice into the writing, I’m proud that I was able to preserve the authenticity of Lorinda and Nora’s stories while continuing to grow my passion for writing.
Designing My Documentary
I’m also so grateful for everything the kids have taught me through the time we’ve spent together. I wanted to embody their childhood wonder and colorful excitement when designing my book. Their doodles and creativity inspired the casual, hand-drawn style of this book. I loved making different graphics to make the book more engaging and friendly. While InDesign was challenging, giving me 65 errors at the last minute, I am proud of how I challenged myself to use an insane amount of GDEs and am really happy with how it turned out.
Creating An Article Form
My AWESOME Interviewees
Lorinda Garcia
Case Worker: Child Services Coordinator (CSC) at Life Moves in San Jose
Nora J Batres
Case Worker: Child Services Coordinator (CSC) at Life Moves in San Jose
Nora’s Interview Transcript
Lorinda’s Interview Transcript
Thank You To Everyone Who supported my project
Thank you to my family for always supporting my tornado of creativity and mess. Thank you to all my friends who had to listen to countless conversations and rants.
Dedicated to to my grandpa. Thank you for teaching me to find the joy in
each moment and being the best role model of perseverance.
Acknowledgmetns: Thank you to Lorinda Garcia & Nora J. Batres for sharing your AMAZING
stories! Thank you to Lorinda, Nora & Irene for letting me be paparazzi! Thank you to all the teachers at freestyle, Mr. Sayer, Ms. P, Mr. Flo,
and especially Mr Greco for not only stepping in to guide us, but also for
seeing and hearing us.