I was eating a bagel when I approached Ralya Elementary School last Sunday morning. I sluggishly stepped out of my car and set up my equipment, and then I realized that if I were going to run in the “race for Ralya,” I wouldn’t have timed very well; it was a rather large bagel that I had consumed.
Aside from that fact, it wasn’t particularly inviting outside. The crowd that assembled in front of the school looked happy and conversational despite the lurking gloom in the clouds above. I spotted my first subject and shuffled across the street to capture it.
Throughout the morning, I attempted to film shoes hitting pavement, kids running with parents, and onlookers cheering jovially. I got what I came for, plus a couple of insightful interviews and one clip where a fleet of children came barreling toward me.
The rain never came. I drove away into the afternoon, feeling very aware of my out-of-shapeness, but nonetheless inspired by the diligence and motivation of the three-hundred plus participants in the race. I commend the students, staff, and family members of Ralya Elementary for being proactive about their school needs, and for literally, taking the strides to raise money for the betterment of their educational facilities and experiences.
Jovial onlookers
