ADRIANNE A.

LLANES

HUMSS 12 – A

PAY IT FORWARD

GUIDE QUESTIONS:

1. How is the concept of social work portrayed in the movie?

Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that

promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and

liberation of people. “Pay It Forward” promotes change in society and development of

people. Trevor (the protagonist) created an act that he initially thought as an assignment

in his social science class about how they can change the world. The Pay It Forward

campaign is an act of helping three people of something big and making them pay it

forward to another three people each. This idea is a chain-like act of kindness and

compassion that concretely proclaims that each person can make a difference in the world

by doing good. This project reflects the concept of social work as it is about doing good

to people and helping them grow and improve that soon can help develop the society.

2. What core values of social work was present in the movie?

The movie presented almost all the core values of social work. One of these is service.

Helping people in need and addressing social problems are what Trevor did. He helped

those who are in need of physiological, emotional and social necessities. He also

respected the dignity and worth of the people he lent a hand. Through helping people and

making them help others, he created an invisible connection that can make people interact

and help one another - therefore giving importance to human relationships. He also

showed how trustworthy, kind and compassionate he is.

3. What is the most striking scene for you in the movie? Why?

I know that most of the viewers’ answers would be same as mine – the scene where

Trevor got stabbed by a knife. His death is the most memorable part of the movie for me,

and that’s because of how the movie chose to portray his death. In this case, the movie

influences how we see death, because many times in films and television, a character’s

death is traumatic. The word ‘dead’ was never used, or even any synonyms of the word.

We knew Trevor died simply from the imagery used. Even though we could not hear

what the doctor said, and even though we did not hear the word ‘dead’, there was no

confusion that Trevor had died. This final scene was visually powerful, because the

audience was able to see the number of people who were affected by Trevor’s death. It

was almost like the media chose to avoid the actual issues of his death, and left his death

on a positive note because of the changes he made in his short life.

4. If you are to Pay It Forward, who will you help and what help will you do?

Remember, it has to something big and the person cannot do it herself/himself?

If I were to help a person, I will help my sister relieve her stress. She’s been under

depression and her “outlet” seemed to be off. So I think I will help her relieve it in a way

she can enjoy and maybe help her ease the anxiety that triggers her depression. I also

would want to remove all the unwanted/negative thoughts that cause her depression. I am

scared about her condition but I know she is a great person and a brave one. She can cope

with it knowing we are here, that I am here and that she is not alone.