Freedom Writers' Review

“The thing I love the most – and still love the most about teaching – is that you can connect with an individual or a group, and see that individual or group exceed their limits.” – Mike Krzyzewski

The story of the “Freedom Writers’ Diary” is inspiring and apt for our course in teaching. Just like how Mrs. Erin Gruwell, a neophyte teacher in Woodrow Wilson High School, she was able to connect and see the growth of her students in and out of the classroom. This was not an easy endeavor, it took a lot of guts, courage and determination to get to where they all were in the end. 

In the movie, Mrs. G was assigned a class of “hopeless cases”, students who were deemed unteachable. This, however, did not hinder her from trying. Instead of becoming disheartened by the disrespect she initially encountered, she used these to be able to understand her students a little more. She also used different strategies to gain their trust and eventually get them to open up to her. 

        In any medical field, we can’t choose our clients, just like a teacher can’t really choose her students in a class. We also can’t dictate how these individuals feel or think about their situation or condition. It’s important that we are the ones who recognize their different perspectives and where their behaviors are coming from before we can make any change. Yes, some people may initially be difficult to handle, but it is our job as teachers to continuously root for them to be better.

        Every individual has potential to become great. Helping students or clients realize their capacity is a step towards improvement. This is not an easy task but it is our duty and the rewards in the end are immeasurable.