Movie Day

03.20.15 – “Movie Day” was something our class was excited about ever since orientation – mostly because it was a break from the usual didactics and group discussions we’ve been having since the semester started. The movie we watched, Freedom Writers, is a movie I’ve already seen years ago. But what made the viewing different this time around is my awareness of the messages the movie is trying to get across and that these realizations are things I can apply to my studies, and hopefully to my future profession.

Respect one’s individuality. Just like how the main character in the movie respected each student’s experiences, personalities and situations, we must consider people’s differences. Time and time again we are taught to individualize a teaching session – because it is an effective way to facilitate learning. There is no one best strategy set in stone. Just think of it in this metaphor: the students as locks in different sizes and shapes – we as future PT professionals must craft a key that best fit each one of them, putting into consideration each one’s characteristics.

 Be creative. If there’s one thing I lack, that’s creativity. And that’s what I’m trying to improve on ever since PT 138 started because whether I like it or not, I would really be pushed to my limits when it comes to teaching. Creativity goes hand-in-hand with resourcefulness. As a teacher, one should be imaginative in coming up with teaching strategies. As no two learners are alike, no two strategies are also identical. I must learn how to make the most out of the available resources and create a strategy that is the most appropriate and would aid learning for each person.

Love your profession. It’s one thing when a person does his/her job for the sake of doing it; it’s another when a person does it because she/he wants to. People around me kept on giving me the same advice: “Happiness will come if you love what you’re doing”. And it’s true. In the movie, the main character went to great lengths to help her students attain empowerment and learning, despite all the obstacles she had to overcome. As a future PT professional, we must not forget the reason why we chose this profession in the first place: it is to help and serve people. 

Never lose that fighting spirit. Effecting change on people can be easy or difficult, that is why perseverance and determination are important. There are people who tend to lose their confidence in the face of difficulty. But we should always view them as people whose lives we can touch and change for the better. No matter how big the hurdle may seem, we must not lose sight of everybody's potential. 

Keeping these things in mind will serve as the push we need to not just settle for good, but for what’s best for our clients.