Submission Instructions
You must be 18 years of age or older to submit an open letter. There are 4 simple steps to follow:
You must be 18 years of age or older to submit an open letter. There are 4 simple steps to follow:
- WRITE AN OPEN LETTER-- according to the suggested guidelines below.
- TAKE A PHOTO OF YOUR HANDS-- see details below.
- SIGN THE AUTHORIZATION FORM-- see below.
- EMAIL YOUR SUBMISSION-- email all 3 items to [email protected]
STEP 1: OPEN LETTER- Suggested Guidelines
The basics:
- Save your writing as a Word Doc, or PDF.
- At the top, include your general location (for example, Northern VA or Los Angeles etc).
- Also at the top, please include your age.
- Total length- from a few short paragraphs up to 4 pages.
About the content of your open letter:
Below, are 5 suggested topics. Ideally, try to answer several questions from each of the 5 topics. All topics may not apply to you. However, Topic 4 (Resilience) and Topic 5 (Wisdom & Hope) are MANDATORY.
TOPIC #1: STRUGGLES & STRESSORS Suggested questions (pick and choose which questions apply to you):
Note: “Cultural & Community Influences” could refer to the culture of high school, of your group of friends, of your family, of Fairfax, your country of origin’s culture, or even U.S. culture.
The basics:
- Save your writing as a Word Doc, or PDF.
- At the top, include your general location (for example, Northern VA or Los Angeles etc).
- Also at the top, please include your age.
- Total length- from a few short paragraphs up to 4 pages.
About the content of your open letter:
Below, are 5 suggested topics. Ideally, try to answer several questions from each of the 5 topics. All topics may not apply to you. However, Topic 4 (Resilience) and Topic 5 (Wisdom & Hope) are MANDATORY.
TOPIC #1: STRUGGLES & STRESSORS Suggested questions (pick and choose which questions apply to you):
- What were your struggles, worries, problems & stress factors in high school/ as a teen/ as a young adult?
- Did these struggles/stresses start in HS or earlier?
- Were struggles/stresses imposed by peers, teachers, family, or self?
- Did you feel alone in your struggles?
- Were your peers suffering/feeling similarly?
Note: “Cultural & Community Influences” could refer to the culture of high school, of your group of friends, of your family, of Fairfax, your country of origin’s culture, or even U.S. culture.
- How did the culture(s)/community around you affect you and your struggles?
- What was the reaction of your peers, family, teachers, to your problems? Did they accept, deny, or ignore your issues?
- Did you accept your problems? Did you feel you needed to hide them?
- How would you describe the “culture” around you during this time, and how did it affect you?
- What were your support systems, outlets, stress reducing techniques?
- Did you seek professional help/therapy?
- Were your parents, friends, teachers supportive? How?
- What kind of support/therapy/help did you access through school and outside of school?
- What support do you wish you had high school, but did not?
- What support did you have in high school that you appreciated?
- Did adults talk to you about suicide, stress, mental health, accessing help etc?
- Did you know how to access help? Did you have anyone to turn to?
- Who did you reach out to? And was it helpful?
- What were the main factors contributing to how you made it through your struggles?
- What/who helped you through your darkest days?
- And how do you feel now, looking back?
- What are the specific factors/conditions/beliefs that contributed to your resiliency?
- How can your local community, inspire/foster resilience in teens?
- What do current teens/young adults and their families need to know/to hear?
- What do schools and policy makers need to hear?
- What are your words of wisdom? What messages of hope do you have to give to others?
- What specific advice can you give to currently struggling young adults and their families?
- What is your vision of a better community/culture/world for teens in the future?
STEP 2: PHOTO OF YOUR HANDS- Guidelines
Must be a photo (in JPEG format) of high quality (1MB or larger) of YOUR hand(s).
Suggestions
Feel free to be creative, but don't worry if you are not "artistic".
The photo can be a visual expression of your overall feelings. Or it can simply be "this is who I am".
You may edit your photo using any kind of software, if you want, but editing is not necessary.
Try using a mirror, or you can have a friend take the photo for you.
Please note
The photo you take has the potential to be identifiable (for example, if you have recognizable tattoos or jewelry). The anonymity (or lack thereof) of your photo is your personal decision. If you would rather not submit a photo, please just let us know.
Must be a photo (in JPEG format) of high quality (1MB or larger) of YOUR hand(s).
Suggestions
Feel free to be creative, but don't worry if you are not "artistic".
The photo can be a visual expression of your overall feelings. Or it can simply be "this is who I am".
You may edit your photo using any kind of software, if you want, but editing is not necessary.
Try using a mirror, or you can have a friend take the photo for you.
Please note
The photo you take has the potential to be identifiable (for example, if you have recognizable tattoos or jewelry). The anonymity (or lack thereof) of your photo is your personal decision. If you would rather not submit a photo, please just let us know.
STEP 3: AUTHORIZATION FORM
Print. Sign. Scan (or take a photo). If you cannot download the file below, click here to print directly from the web.
Print. Sign. Scan (or take a photo). If you cannot download the file below, click here to print directly from the web.
| alone-together_information_authorization_form.pdf |
Please note that your submission does not guarantee that it will be published on our site. Thank you.
