The Global Search for Education: How Positivity Helps Children Facing Cancer and Depression

Posted By C. M. Rubin on Oct 12, 2026

This month, audiences can watch The Power of Positivity on Planet Classroom’s YouTube Channel. This film is curated for Planet Classroom by KIDS FIRST! Film Festival.

Living with a serious illness can be an enormous burden, but the psychological toll can sometimes feel even heavier. In the deeply moving short documentary The Power of Positivity, producer and director Wendy Lobel shares the extraordinary story of Alex Beaton, a young cancer survivor confronting an inoperable brain tumor, bullying, and depression.

Alex’s journey takes an unexpected turn when he attends a specialized summer camp for children battling cancer. Surrounded by peers who understand his experiences, Alex discovers a renewed sense of belonging and begins to see his circumstances through a more hopeful lens. The film offers a powerful message about mental health, resilience, community, and how finding people who understand what we are going through can help us move forward.

The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Wendy Lobel.

C.M. Rubin: Wendy, what was it about Alex’s story that made you feel this was a story that needed to be told?

Wendy Lobel: I think it was Alex’s openness and honesty about his struggles that many people would be afraid to talk about or bring into the light. He goes through some really hard and dark times, but with the help of others and his own inner strength, he’s able to pull himself out of that place and ultimately become a source of strength for others. That’s about as inspirational and transformational as you can get, to me.

C.M. Rubin: Alex’s journey moves from cancer and depression to becoming a source of strength for others. What surprised you most about him as you followed his story?

Wendy Lobel: I think what surprised me most was how strong and vulnerable Alex was able to be at the same time. When we first met and I asked him what he might want to make his film about, he said, “I think I want to make a documentary to help people, to help survivors,” and that shaped his film. He could make a film about whatever he wanted, and he wanted to make it to help others. And then he opened up and shared his whole story.

C.M. Rubin: The film tackles childhood cancer, depression, bullying, faith, and resilience without losing its sense of hope. How did you find the right balance between the difficult realities and the film’s message of positivity?

Wendy Lobel: I think positivity can sometimes be viewed as dismissive of the challenges we face, but with Alex’s story, we didn’t want to shy away from the darkness he lived through because that wouldn’t be telling his full story. Likewise, if we focused too much on his struggles, the audience wouldn’t leave feeling inspired. We truly followed Alex’s lead—this was the film he chose to make, his story!

Everyone goes through difficult times, whether it’s cancer or bullying, losing someone we love, bankruptcy, or whatever life puts in front of us. Showing both the darkness and the light makes Alex’s story more relatable and hopefully gives people a sense that if Alex could get through what he did, maybe they can get through whatever they’re struggling with too.

It might not always end happily ever after, but we can find and connect to the light within us and allow more of that goodness into our lives and maybe, in turn, help someone else who is struggling along the way.

C.M. Rubin: What are you working on now, and has making The Power of Positivity changed the kinds of stories you want to tell next?

Wendy Lobel: I just completed another Angelight Film for a young girl named Madison, who has a brain tumor and is partially blind because of it. Madison continues to rise above her challenges, loves to play softball with her friends, and is even the pitcher!

We’re also developing a feature-length documentary where we plan to reconnect with our past Angelight alumni, see what they’re up to now, and learn how making their Angelight Film has impacted their lives over the years.

Making The Power of Positivity has definitely reinforced for me that these are the kinds of stories I want to keep telling, ones that remind us of the strength, resilience, and goodness people can find even in the hardest moments. Not to give up hope when the going gets tough…

Thank you, Wendy!

Film Credits

Producer/Director: Wendy Lobel
Executive Producer: Stephanie Angel