Prom night. You remember it don’t you? The biggest worry on your mind was whether you got the right shade to match the color in your date’s outfit, because what was more important than getting the perfect sentimental prom photos? You watched countless television shows and teen movies that prepared you for this highly anticipated night. But even if prom night ended up being just another forgettable high school activity, you were able to have that experience and make those memories.
Imagine if there were no promposals, no corsages, no socializing with friends, no dancing, no prom king and queen, no memories. This was a reality that many juniors and seniors were preparing to accept due to the COVID-19 crisis that has unfortunately canceled so many highly anticipated high school traditions. Until the innovative young minds behind the creation of the notOK app got another bright idea: a virtual prom.
Understanding that prom is a huge milestone in the life of a teenager, and for many considered to be a rite of passage, Hannah and Charlie Lucas did not want their peers to lose out on this experience. The dynamic sibling duo hosted the We are Well Prom and as someone fortunate enough to chaperone this event, it was undoubtedly a night to remember. The We are Well Prom was hosted on their Instagram Live which allowed teenagers from all around the country to join in on the fun and stay connected despite the national social distancing effort.
The night was a blast as Charlie and Hannah had some impressive dance moves and even performed some popular TikTok challenges. They even managed to have arguably the most famous prom DJ of all-time as DJ Jazzy Jeff was keeping the party going all night on the turntables. But preserving the joyful experience was only a portion of what made this night so special. What is so impressive about these two young minds is how compassionate they are and their ability to recognize that many individuals that needed support.
Throughout the night, they encouraged viewers to say what they are doing for their mental health during these difficult times. Hundreds of comments were flowing in highlighting great self-care tips. They focused on mental health in this demographic largely because Generation Z is the loneliest generation and claims to be in worse health than older generations. Being quarantined and missing out on social activities like prom does not help that statistic, so it was refreshing to see the effort to prioritize brain health. It was also so heartwarming to see Hannah and Charlie constantly shouting out and supporting individuals attending the event who bought into the experience and posted prom pics on their social media channels. They even reposted them to their own Instagram feed.
And it doesn’t stop there. Another contributor to increased levels of anxiety and uncertainty is our current economic challenges. Recognizing this stress, thanks to Jack Dorsey and some other donors, they gave out over $45,000 in cash grants to high schoolers in need. These cash grants will be able to help pay for tuition for those graduating, books, laptop, internet, therapy, or other basic living necessities.
I was impressed when I first met these two passionate mental health advocates when they presented at the Mental Health of America conference last year. I was even more impressed after interviewing them and learning more about their experiences. And then they once again outdid themselves with a Flawless virtual prom that has benefited so many lives, by getting creative to ensure we stay connected.
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