Did the topic that the series discussed hit close to home? Why? Noor: To a certain extent, there were parts of every character on our show that I could relate to. Growing up I would always be seen in a certain way even though there was another side to me that was hidden. I love how Al Rawabi School for Girls proved that everyone has different sides to them that the world doesn’t necessarily know of. Rakeen: Yes, of course. The show sheds light on the challenges and struggles that young adults face during this critical stage in their lives including bullying, cyberbullying, peer pressure, the generation gap between parents and their children as well as personal struggles, which almost everyone can relate to. When it comes to bullying for example, most of us have experienced it one way or another, even if we were not aware of the exact term back then. However, I have always been a fighter who stands for justice and defends people if they ever go through that experience. Andria: One of the most significant issues highlighted by the show is bullying and its consequences, which I did experience back in my school days. However, the show enabled me to talk about the issue on behalf of those who can’t through my character.
What was the hardest scene to shoot? Noor: Definitely the last scene with Hazem. The emotions that came with that scene were overwhelming and tough. I’m glad I had the most supportive cast and crew around me at the time. Layan’s bullying scenes were also some of the toughest ones for me because bullying is a huge issue that occurs in numerous schools. And so we had extensive rehearsals with Tima to be able to accurately present this issue on screen. Rakeen: I think one of the hardest scenes that I had to shoot was the harassment scene. It was very emotionally intense and became a turning point in the story. Also, technically, it was hard since we were shooting it in a swimming pool and the crew was with us in the water. Andria: The most difficult scene for me was the beating scene, which was choreographed with all the safety measures taken into consideration. We also had a stunt rehearsal to make sure that nobody gets injured during this scene. 30 IDENTITY • September 2021
What is the main lesson you want the viewers to learn from your show? Noor: “Not everything you see is the truth” was Rawabi’s main point and the point that resonated with me the most. I truly think people should understand that empathy goes a long way because you never know what anyone is feeling or going through. You can never hurt anyone by being kind. Rakeen: I think there are many lessons but one of them is that not everything your eyes see is the truth. I also feel like we shed light on many important issues we’re now facing in our society; from bullying, harassment, the generation gap between parents and their kids, mental health etc. Andria: Bullying can have long-lasting damage on its victims. Yet, people fail to realize the significance of these consequences. It’s important to address bullying by speaking out. In addition to that, parents and teachers play an important role in preventing such an issue and ensuring the safety of each student. I also believe that candid conversations between students and their parents should strengthen their bond and trust.
