Students assemble in the auditorium buzzing with curiosity. A mix of emotions fills the room as they patiently wait for their guest speaker. This will be the freshman’s first assembly of the year, which is important because it can impact them in the years to come.
John Morello is introduced, enters the room and very quickly has his audience erupting in laughter. Morello jokes about how he was as a kid. He said he would crack jokes during class and was able to connect with everyone around him. Suddenly, things take a turn and the reactions of the crowd turn into a hushed crowd with deep focus as they await to hear the issues he was faced with growing up and how he was able to overcome them.
The Dirt Assembly puts members of the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions as they’re unsure of what could happen next. It discusses topics that aren’t easy to put into words such as bullying, mental health, drugs, and losing someone or something of importance. It is a coming of age story that is demonstrated by Murillo changing characters while on stage. He adds something special to each character like a hat, backpack, or cane, so it is easier to recognize when the next character’s story is being told. Each of his characters face situations that impact them in negative ways, which could lead to drug abuse, suicidal thoughts, and the feeling of being so alone there is nowhere to turn.
“DIRT” is a one-man production by John Murillo that focuses on the fact that everyone has their own story. He brings to life different characters that face addiction and bullying in a high school setting, weaving the connections between the teenage characters and the adults in their lives,” Mrs Christine McCabe, a school vice principal, said. “He illustrates the effects these experiences may have on family and friend relationships. The production helps students know that they are not alone, and are not unseen.
McCabe also shares how the assembly could help students reach out to reachers. “He speaks of a teacher that helped him in his youth and how that teacher gave him an opportunity that sparked his path in life,” she said. “This is an inspirational story that may resonate with some students, providing them with the courage to reach out to a trusted adult.”
His first character, David, a high school student, talks about what led him to use drugs and how he is willing to stand up for others because he is unable to stand up for himself. David is unhappy with himself and works to do the right thing for the good of others.
Jason is protective over his cousin and defends him when anyone has something negative to say behind his back. He smokes weed and is often shown as being disconnected from reality. He tells his story of how people make judgments about him because he uses drugs, and how they don’t really know how talented he is because he is overlooked.
Melissa, who is a student who tends to keep to herself, begins to drink so that people will be more friendly towards her. She gets vulnerable, as she retells her story of assault at a party, and the bullying she faces during school. She too feels like giving up and cannot go to her mother for help because she is scared of how she would react.
Hank walks the audience through his time being shipped to war. His black friend who went through the same torment as him to defend the country was treated very poorly because of his race. He also watches as the people around him normalize making fun of someone for something they cannot control. He is faced with suicidal thoughts and depression, but is unsure how to deal with is because the time period encourages men to be strong and not speak on their emotions.
All of Murillos characters talk about their battles and how it affects them mentally and physically. Murillo discusses his past in further detail, talking about how he too began to hate the things he used to love, started to flunk his classes and resorted to being class clown to fill the void, and suffered panic attacks and anxiety.
Freshman Harmony Gorrell shared, “I thought it was really inspiring, and I learned how drug addiction affects people’s lives”
“Coming into high school can be a difficult transition for freshmen as there are new social and academic challenges that students can face,” McCabe said. “The presentation focuses on how sometimes it can feel that people don’t hear or understand what you might be going through. It is important for students to understand that the adults in the building are here because they care about the students and want to see them succeed no matter what they may be experiencing.”
