|
By Emily Wierenga
Shauna Simmonds is not your average 25 year old.
The executive director of the values based DVD series,
MakeYouThink.tv,
her creation is now being used in 15 countries worldwide. The movies
address issues surrounding youth on their journey to finding acceptance and
purpose in a cold, confusing world.
For the past two years, Simmonds has also been named
Miss Ontario, a title which falls under the auspices of Miss Canada
International. Her impact on youth has been acknowledged.
“The pageant is based on inner character,
community and charitable work,” she told Options. “Rather than being a pageant based on outer beauty,
the focus is specific to helping girls and young women become role models
for their community and their country.”
People of influence in our lives have usually had to
overcome their own challenges, and Simmonds is no exception.
“I was the girl who was always being left
out,” she said. Indeed, in grade eight, her parents pulled her out of
school, hoping to instill a sense of self-worth in their lonely daughter.
Later, she returned to the public school system – somewhere she
jokingly labelled “the real world.”
She observed: “I remember standing outside with
my friends as they lit another cigarette, and thinking: ‘This is not
the lifestyle I want to live. I need to find friends who will love me, not
just use me.’”
She recalled walking down empty hallways at school,
trying to find new friends.
She now tells youth that hope exists
“at the end of the high school hallway.”
While attending a youth conference at age 13, she
said, “I realized that I was created with a purpose in mind and was
already accepted; I did count in God’s eyes. I didn’t have the
wisdom to do life on my own, so that was the breaking point for me. I gave
up and put my life in his hands.”
Now, she said, “I just want to influence lives
and motivate young people to think differently.”
She recalled facing the common challenge all youth
face when leaving high school: ‘What next?’ English and Math
were not her forté. But she had “a 99 percentile in
photography, media and music.” Indeed, for each of her final
projects, she wrote a song and produced a movie – instead of writing
essays.
After a trip to Israel, Simmonds had the opportunity
to host a kids’ TV program on CTS for seven years. Then she knew
where her passion lay.
“I think it’s really important to look at
what you’re good at, and maximize those opportunities,” she
said. However, she cautioned young people: “I think there are always
people who will tell you that you can’t do it.”
After deciding to pursue filmmaking full-time, and
taking a four-month crash-course in media production, she was surprised to
discover others didn’t share her enthusiasm.
“I went to a few people to look for support in
making [the DVDs], and I thought everyone would be excited about it. But a
lot of people told me: ‘You won’t b
Over the next two years, she proved them wrong. MakeYouThink.tv has become
an influential tool for changing young people’s lives. e able to do
it.’”
|
“I would encourage young people to step up and
do it – find your dreams,” stressed Simmonds.
Her message is based on 18 values which Simmonds
believes form the core of life’s most crucial decisions. They explore
issues like self-worth, perseverance, honesty, purpose and forgiveness.
The movies are short, high-impact films communicating
powerful messages in a way which makes sense to today’s youth
culture.
While she described her message as “values
based,” she said she has had to agree to refrain from speaking about
her faith in many public contexts.
Asked if her core message is compatible with the
gospel, she responded that she makes every effort to “express values
compatible with Christianity,” mentioning: “I was able to slip
in a 1 Corinthians 13 verse, into the talk on ‘love’ –
but even that is risky.” That she cares about kids and has an impact
upon them is, however, not in doubt. She understands the effect she can
have through TV.
“It’s an intimate, direct medium which
touches the emotions. As a host, it’s important to realize that
– although TV is a mass-media vehicle – talking to viewers is
one-on-one, and can be used positively or negatively. I want to make media
which lifts us up, rather than pulls us down. I see my role as producing
media that’s refreshing and makes people think.”
Simmonds tries to engage students and help them
reflect on life in a deeper way, encouraging them ‘to make the most
of who they are.’
Each package includes a music video, a
director’s cut and discussion questions. They are sold in sets of
three; the first deals with identity, purpose and trust; and the second
addresses respect, dreams and love.
This year, she hopes to complete the final 12 DVDs.
Simmonds works closely with Chris Stacey, a music
video director who makes everything look dynamic. “Because of his
insights,” she said, “the videos are fresh, uplifting and
cutting-edge.”
Speaking about her faith, she responded: “God is
the one I rely on. I ask him for wisdom all the time . . . because there
are so many choices we have to make, and I want to make the best ones along
this road. I want to make good choices, and live life to the
fullest.”
Ultimately, Simmonds dreams about leaving a legacy of
youth who are inspired to dream big, and live fulfilled and purposeful
lives.
For more info: www.makeyouthink.tv.
Options Spring 2008
|
