MTV Tr3s announced today the world premiere of Yearbook Chronicles, a groundbreaking documentary that examines the disproportionate rate of young Latinos dropping out of high school. In response to this national increase, the special, which airs on Saturday, September 26 at 2PM EST, offers insight into why high school students drop out as well as shows the positive influence that four students have over their fellow classmates.
«Education is one of the most important issues facing the Latin community, and portraying this through the lens of hope was essential to MTV Tr3’s mission,» said Lily Neumeyer, Vice President Programming & Production. «Most of the students in this documentary face common obstacles in completing their high school education. Many are the first in their family to finish their degree so that they themselves can become the next Latino astronaut or Supreme Court judge.»
A cross between True Life and Frontline, Yearbook Chronicles conveys both the story of students whose perseverance, often against the odds, successfully carried them through school, while also detailing the lives of those caught up by personal and societal struggles that caused them to drop out.
For this special documentary, MTV Tr3s went behind the scenes at Bell High School in Los Angeles, California where Mexicans are the predominant nationality in the 98% Latino student body. The national dropout rate for high school students is 9%, but in California it is a staggering 20%.
Yearbook Chronicle tells the story of four students of Mexican heritage in the Bell High School Class of 2009 who are members of the school yearbook club. Their assignment: to find a former high school classmate and discover why they dropped out of school.
As they complete their senior year, the yearbook members reflect on past struggles, share their hopes and dream for the future as they flip through old yearbooks remembering those who have dropped out of school along the way. Understanding the importance of an education, these students embark on a quest to find their long-lost friends and encourage them to return to school. Their future depends on it.
Meet the cast:
Jovanni (18 years old)
This ambitious student will be the 1st in his family to graduate high school. He will be attending Connecticut College and aspires to be a doctor one day. He is on the quest to find Ivan, his former classmate who dropped out in the 11th grade and began tagging (graffiti artwork). Jovanni hopes he can encourage Ivan to use his artistic talent towards a future career but can he convince him to quit his life of illegally tagging on the streets?
Mayra (18 years old)
Despite facing motherhood at the age of 14, Mayra continued to attend H.S. after her baby’s birth. Although it has been challenging, Mayra has successfully balanced motherhood and school and is top 10 of her graduating class. For her class assignment, Mayra will be looking for Martha, a former Bell student who dropped out after getting pregnant during their sophomore year. Mayra hopes that Martha will follow her lead and get back to school to finish her degree.
Jessica (17 years old)
Jessica is on a quest to finding her good friend David. They shared a special connection, and Jessica cared for him like the big brother she never had. In fact, David used to hang out with her whole family, and her parents called him their «second son.» Jessica knew David had a passion for street racing and is afraid he dropped out of school because he started hanging with the wrong crowd. Can Jessica save David before he hurts himself or someone else?
Susie (18 years o
