STARTING THE CONVERSATION

Immediately after the film, you may want to give people a few quiet moments to reflect on what they have seen. You could pose a general question (examples below) and give people some time to themselves to jot down or think about their answers before opening the discussion. Alternatively, you could ask participants to share their thoughts with a partner before starting a group discussion.

Warm Up:

• What are your initial thoughts/feelings after watching the film?
• Even though Meryland lost the 2018 Junior Olympics, she was determined to work hard and compete again. After a period of intense training, she ultimately won in 2019. What do ‘second chances’ mean to you? Have you had any second chances over the course of your lifetime? If so, how have second chances changed you?
• Think about your own experiences, is there anything that you didn’t succeed in at first that you’d like to try again? A time you lost but would like to try again?

Events in the film

• What goal was Meryland working towards? Do you remember which steps she took to achieve that goal?
• What does Meryland’s family do to support her goal? How do her parents motivate her to become better? What roles might family and/or community play in supporting us towards achieving our goals?
• What happened to Meryland when she was six years old? What did Meryland and her parents do to recover and rise above what happened to her? Have you or anyone in your life ever experienced hardship that you’ve had to overcome? How does Meryland’s experience shape your reflections on your own?
• At the end, what does Meryland say is her larger purpose in life for boxing and winning? What are some ways Meryland inspired you?

Impact

• What part of the film did you identify with the most? Why?
• Did any moment in the film inspire you? If so, which part?
• How did a second chance motivate Meryland and her family? Does this make you think differently about your own hopes and dreams?
• Even though Meryland’s parents put her in ballet, music, and soccer classes, she pleaded with her parents to box instead. Does Meryland’s love for boxing as a young woman make you think differently about the sport? How so?
• Based on the portrayal of the Gonzalez family, how would you describe an immigrant family’s experience in America?
• In your own words, what is “the American dream?” After watching the film, did your ideas about the American dream change? If so, how?

Going deeper

• Meryland’s dad says they have to make sacrifices in order to break barriers for their family’s future. Does seeing their sacrifices make you feel more or less empathetic to Meryland and her family? Why?
• Does this film remind you of someone in your life that has made sacrifices to support you? If so, how did they shape your life? What would you say to them today?
• Meryland’s dad describes her as a “rose trying to come out of the concrete.” What do you think he means by this imagery? In what ways does this description make you think differently about Meryland, her family, and their circumstances?
• Meryland declares that she “wants to become someone [important] in life” and she “wants to leave her mark.” What difference does she want to make in the world? Why do you think she’s so passionate about making a difference? What impact does Meryland’s example have on you?
• In the words of Meryland, what kind of mark or example would you want to leave on the world?
• How did this film invite you to reflect on assumptions you/we make about immigrant families and the lives they’ve lived? How does this film inspire you to resist assumptions about immigrants in America and their contributions to society?
• How do you stay persistent while working towards your goals? How would your attitude change if you knew you had to start over from the beginning?
• In what ways, if any, does this film inspire you towards action?
• What does this film have to teach us about the power of family and overcoming adversity? What are some ways that families and communities support individuals who want to achieve greatness and transform their life circumstances?

TAKING ACTION

• Volunteer at a program that empowers youth to become leaders in their communities and advocates for high-quality education.
• Research policies, laws, and policy makers who advocate for the rights of immigrants and prioritize their integration into American society through accessible paths to citizenship.
• Find ways to disseminate information to your community or tell your elected officials about policies that promote equity, nondiscrimination, and dignity for all immigrants.