VOA常速英语:Anti-Drug Student Film Contest Encourages Kids to Take a Stand(翻译)

“Lights Out,” is the first place winner on the high school level of the contest. The film was made by Alex Ismael, a rising 10th grader at Linganore High School. In the film, he used light bulbs as a metaphor.

“Our friends and family around us, each represents a different light and how we need to keep these lights on, and the brighter the better. Doing drugs really is gonna stop you from being there for those people.”

“We were very excited to hear about Alex’s first place finish in the program. But we were also very excited to hear about the program in general because we know that students can use their peer pressure for positive things.”

Frederick County council member, Billy Shreve, who came up with the idea for the contest, says Ninety-five students submitted films.

“We kept it simple. ‘How drugs wreck your world’ for middle school and high school students. And ‘Why are drugs bad?’ for elementary school students. We’ve had over 50,000 views on YouTube. The parents love it because they can sit down at home, watch a few videos with their kids, talk about what the video content was.”

On the middle school level, Alexandra Kish’s video got first place.

“I wanted to make it straightforward; don’t do drugs. I know someone who was very severely affected by drugs. I mean this person just does not look well, she is not well mentally, physically. She’s just out of it. ”

The first place winner in the elementary school category comes from this School.

4th grader Liam Timpane says he made the film to have a positive impact on his peers—and for another important reason.

“My dad is also a moviemaker and I wanted him to feel good about me, and I decided to make my own video. In our health lesson, we were talking about how bad drugs are for you. And actually, one kid in my class mentioned for that part of the health lesson, he said, ‘It’s kind of what Liam’s video is talking about.’”

Starting next year, and because of its huge success, the Classmates4 Life anti-drug student film contest will be a statewide program, giving more students an opportunity to creatively fight drug abuse.

For writer Faiza Elmasry, I’m Faith Lapidus VOA NEWS.