Monthly Prompt Judging Form |

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Dear Judge,

We encourage you to seek personal support if you become troubled by the content of this category. If you experience an emotional crisis, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or to the California Warmline at (855) 845-7415.

The entries you are judging are submissions in the Hope and Justice category. Entries in this category deal with a variety of topics including mental health, suicide prevention, social justice and other complex topics that need to be addressed with compassion and knowledge.

For this category we asked youth to communicate about what they are feeling, increase knowledge about an issue or take a stand against injustice, or share their perspective in a way that gives others a glimpse into their lives. While some youth submit entries share ideas for solutions to the issues of concern, others used this as an opportunity to process their feelings in a therapeutic way. We welcome all types of submissions. In our submission criteria, we remind youth that whatever message they choose, their submissions need to be thoughtful and respectful. We asked youth to be honest about their feelings, but to be sure their entries convey that they are coming from a place of cultural humility and has the intent to further understanding and constructive dialogue about social justice and change. So, as a judge please score each of these entries based on how well they conveyed their messages and followed these guidelines. At any point if you are experiencing technical difficulties with the website, or have questions regarding the category, please email Emma@DirectingChange.org or call (707) 394-8708.

In advance, we appreciate your time.

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Entry Details

Title

Reflection

Grade

Description from the submitter

Growing up, the number of Chinese kids at my school could be counted on one hand. I knew I was different, but I yearned so badly to conform. I refused to learn Chinese writing, I brought exclusively "American" food for lunch, and I never ever spoke a word of Mandarin in front of my elementary classmates. It wasn't until my family moved to where we are now, where the Asian population accounts for a quarter of my school's population, did I learn to accept and celebrate my family's culture. My new friends were actually interested in Chinese culture, shared parts of their own culture, and helped me realize that being Chinese-American was nothing to be ashamed of. There have also been many Chinese and Asian community leaders that I met throughout my community involvement, showcasing that the stereotypically "meek" race is capable of being strong leaders. As a leader on multiple fronts myself, their work is very inspiring. The result of these experiences is that, I have grown an air of confidence in proclaiming that I am a Chinese-American girl. This year, at my senior prom, I will don a traditional Chinese qipao, which I have portrayed myself wearing in my painting. Girls before me inspired me to obtain the traditional garb, and hopefully, my dress this year will inspire other young girls to flaunt their own traditions in the future. The Asian community has pushed me to be unapologetically Chinese, with the security of an entire community behind me. And so unlike Mulan, when I look into the mirror, I know exactly who that girl staring back at me is; an unwavering Chinese-American who is proud to be "more than one".

Judge Name*

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Messaging Scoring Measures

Overall, how well does the submission communicate a message about February's prompt:*

Please enter a number from 0 to 25.

For April, young people were asked to create art, films or write about the actions young people can take to improve and support the world we live in, in recognition of Earth Day. Youth were encouraged to share actions young people can take, or create art about environmental justice and the changes they want to see in their community and the world. .

How well did the messages in the submission INSPIRE or EDUCATE you?

Please enter a number from 0 to 15.

While this scoring measure is highly subjective and based on each individual’s feelings after viewing the submission, the goal of this scoring measure is to judge how well the youth succeeded in inspiring the audience in a way that leaves a lasting and meaningful impact and/or provided information that will advance knowledge on the topic.

Considering the format of the project and the quality of the submission, please rate the overall effort and thought that you feel the youth put into creating their project. (Please also consider the age of the participant, as ages range from middle school age to 25 years old).*

Please enter a number from 0 to 25.

How well does the submission show unique or creative interpretation of the topic addressed?*

Please enter a number from 0 to 15.

This is less about content, but about the creativity used to communicate the content.

The submission is technically well-produced*

Please enter a number from 0 to 10.

If a film or TikTok – consider the focus, exposure, audio clarity, use of graphics and/or special effects, pacing and flow.
If a painting, digital art, sketch, comic, animation, or other 2-D art – consider the skill in use of line, color, form, texture, perspective, visual rhythm, etc.
If a radio PSA – consider the pace, clarity of messaging, use of music or sound effects, overall flow of script, etc.
If original music – consider the clarity, rhythm, musical and/or mechanical skill, phrasing, etc.
If a blog, poem, spoken word, essay or other narrative – consider the structure, grammar, word choice, flow, rhyme scheme, expressiveness, etc.

The submission provides a clear message that is thoughtful and respectful.*

Please enter a number from 0 to 10.

Optional - Please provide any comments or feedback you like to share with the youth who created this project.