A former Guam resident had an idea and created a video to share that idea - a clip that's since gone viral - a movement that aims to help those most vulnerable during this global pandemic.

Former resident Josiah "JT" Duenas is currently a senior in Houston, Texas.

"One night I was FaceTime'ing my girlfriend Jamie, and she told me that her school senior prom might be canceled. And then she said, 'I don't know what we're going to do with all the money?' and I said, 'You guys should donate it. At first it was just a simple thought...but then it hit me. I had an idea," he recalled.

His family moved after he completed his sophomore year at John F. Kennedy High school. Like many graduating senior classes across the globe, everything from proms to walking across the stage to accept your diploma is being scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"In the US alone, there are over 24,000 high schools. And my girlfriend said that the senior class at her high school raised over $15,000, and they're a pretty small school," Duenas said. "So if we assume most schools have $15,000 and we multiply that by the 24,000 high schools in the US, that is exactly $360 million that could potentially by high schools in the US alone."

So he put together a video to convey this big beautiful idea for high schools on Guam, Texas, and everywhere. He said it took two days of filming and close to five days of editing but the end result was a six and half minute video aimed at inspiring those to help others who need it during these challenging times of COVID-19.

And in just one day, he was overwhelmed by the response.

 

"I think the point for me where I realized this video is going somewhere is when Superintendent Jon Fernandez shared the video and commented on my YouTube video. I was like maybe this video can actually go somewhere, and have something to this movement I'm trying to start," he shared.

And the video has gone viral, being shared on WhatsApp chat groups and posted on social media platforms with positive feedback praising Duenas for such a great idea. It's an idea that the 17-year-old hopes will resonate with other graduating classes.

"I know it seems like the Class of 2020 has been cursed.," he said. "We were born as America was recovering from the attacks on 9/11, and now we're graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic. What that means is that the class of 2020 is a resilient bunch."

"Now it's our chance to prove it to the world. This pandemic will be written about in the history books that our grandchildren will read, let's make sure we ink our names in big bold black letters right smack in the middle of that book."

"The big goal and the perfect plan would be high schools be inspired by it and actually do what I ask in the video....to take the funds and donate it," Duenas added. "It's an ambitious goal but I hope what comes from the video kids my age and kids that see it recognize the situation we're in and maybe with a little bit of selflessness, we can help each other get out of the tough times we're in."