By Pat C.
Recently, Chris Stein, Family Foundation School staff and advisor to the student government, received a phone call from Geraldine Brenner and Marie Murphy of Job Corps asking if he could get a few students from The Family School to put together a 15-minute skit about a dysfunctional family for Job Corps drug awareness day. Stein accepted the request and put together a group of five students for the skit.
The students were Henry W., Austin C., Kendra S., Sarah W., and Pat C. Austin and Pat were in charge of writing the skit. Since each member of the cast grew up in dysfunctional families, they were able to incorporate parts of each person’s story in the plot. After the skit was written, the cast began memorizing their lines and practicing for the presentation at the Job Corps in nearby Callicoon.
On Thursday, August 13, the students headed to Job Corps with Stein and Tom Kovaleski, head of the performing arts department at FFS, prepared and ready to perform. After a short drive from Hancock to Callicoon, the cast walked into a hot gym filled with 400 people. “I had butterflies in my stomach when we arrived at Job Corps, because I realized I was going to be performing in front of 400 people,” said Henry. After having a few minutes to collect themselves, the cast went out on the gym floor and began presenting. The crowd enjoyed the skit and seemed to find it quite comical.
After the skit, the students did a 15 minute question and answer session with the audience. “I saw the skit and the question and answer as a real opportunity to give back to the community,” said Sarah. After the drug and awareness presentations were over the students enjoyed a barbeque.
