Taking 'A Week Away'

(Editor's note: Tuckahoe Middle School seventh-grade English students recently wrote editorials designed to persuade Henrico citizens to read, listen to or watch a story or book that reflected their individual cultures, as a way to help others better understand them. This is one of those editorials; click here to read others.)

In 2018, when I was 11, I lost a mother. Not only was she a mother, but also a hero, fighter, and best friend a girl like me could have. Things were hard. Believe me when I say that. But like her, I’m a fighter too.

For most of my life, my mother had cancer. She was diagnosed in 2011, when I was four. Growing up, I remember she was always at doctors appointments and doing chemo. One day after school I got home and she had a cold cap on her head to help prevent hair loss. She had socks on her ears and she was all bundled up, watching a baking show on Netflix. It wasn’t always easy to see her like that. But no matter how hard it was for me, it was 10 times harder for her. She always had a support system though. She had me, her friends, her parents, and her family. I will admit, things weren’t always smooth sailing. But music helped me get through all that. They made me dance and sing and distract me from what was going on in my life.

A Week Away made me sing, dance, laugh, and cry. The musical takes place at a summer camp, and deals with grief and the foster system. Not only did it make me happy, but I could relate to it. The main characters, Avery and Will, go through grief like me. Everyone’s experience with grief is different, and of course our situations aren’t the exact same, but it felt good to watch a movie about people going through the same thing I am. But not only is this movie about grief, it also has adventure, romance and competition, all bundled up in one awesome package, which is why I think people of Henrico County who enjoy music and dancing should watch this movie.

Will’s parents passed when he was younger, so he’s in the foster system. But, he acts out, and is given a choice between juvenile detention and attending a Christian summer camp. He meets Avery, who lost her mother when she was younger. I connected with both characters because I know how it feels to wish you could say “I love you” to that person just one more time. I don’t know anyone who’s lost a mother at my age, and both Avery and Will are people who know what I’m going through because they’ve been through it all. They know how hard it can be on some days. They know what it’s like to have a hole in your life where that person should be. And even though they’re both fictional, I really relate to what they are going through in the movie, which is a nice feeling that I don’t get very often. This movie also talks about the effects grief can have on a person, too. In the movie, there are moments where Will acts out because of all the anger he feels, which I totally understand.

I think that people should experience A Week Away because it transports you to a summer camp filled with fun and competition. With its inspiring soundtrack, you’ll be smiling in no time. This movie takes you on an adventure filled with romance, random bursts of song, grief, and fun. It’s a must-watch!