Prior to coming to The Ohio State University my awareness of modern societal issues was limited. However, our ACES seminar course helped widen my perspective of the need for change today. In particular, the film project exposed me to some issues that had not come across my mind before. Along with my group, I studied the film “Lost for Life”, which addresses the need for the reform of rights of juveniles with life sentences. Thousands of juveniles are currently imprisoned for life, and up until recently, they faced mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole. This meant that an action they committed as a young teen, potentially while under peer pressure, can result in them never leaving prison for the remainder of their life.

Not only were these injustices addressed in the film, but issues such as abuse, rape, and gang influence arose. For example, a man named Sean was in a gang while he was a teenager, and killed someone in a shootout. Had these young boys had a more positive influence to turn to, many murders would not be happening in the first place. I have gained the ability to connect the dots between issues such as domestic abuse, poverty, and murder, for they commonly work as a chain reaction. I have always aspired to have the chance to make a difference in the lives of others, and now I know that by working to alleviate issues such as poverty or physical and emotional abuse, a reaction of positive change can result. Not only did the film project expose me to modern issues with crime and the judicial system, it also helped me to hone my skills in organizing information and presenting it to others. The analysis of one film revealed the depth of injustices and their connections to me and hopefully to millions of other viewers who will also take an interest in improving the quality of life of these young criminals.