Day 5

Freedom Writers (2007) was set in the early 90’s during which gang wars were dominant in America, focusing on a group of students from Room 203 of Woodrow Wilson High School and their teacher Ms. Erin Gruwell. It depicted the struggles the teacher encountered because of the obstinate behavior of her racially integrated class. In the end, she, together with the class, was able to overcome those conflicts and was also able to make a difference in the lives of her students.

This film has taught me various things but I think the most important of which is that, to quote Eliphas Levi, “A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who find learning hard.” The first thing Ms. Gruwell did that paved her way into changing her students’ behavior was identifying and understanding where her students were coming from. And although there were many factors that did occur beyond her control, she offered not only her dedication but also her faith to the abilities of her students. She taught them to believe in themselves and made them aware of their true potentials.

In our profession, this is very important especially for patients who feel hopeless with their situations. We should be able to remind them of their capacity to progress and become functional despite their conditions. It is also important to be able to dedicate ourselves to the sake of our patients and to maximizing their capabilities. And for our profession, genuine care is a must.