Fueled with Passion

The movie’s theme has been adapted in other media already so it was actually not new to me anymore. But it made me think, how far can teachers go to educate their students? Are they bound by the four walls of their classroom? Or do they give everything it takes to go beyond these walls and change their students’ lives? When do you actually draw the line?

This movie screamed passion at me. Erin Gruwell’s actions surely took a great deal of dedication and courage. She was very inspiring that it came to a point where I ask myself, “Can I do the same?”.

However, in my opinion, having a strong sense of commitment was not the only quality that makes her a great teacher. Undeniably, her passion served as fuel to her endless efforts but this also translated into her teaching strategies. To make her students listen to her, she worked her way in trying to understand where they are coming from. She employed different strategies – from asking them to write diaries to providing new books to taking them on a field trip. All of which are efforts to empathize with the students. Finally, when she succeeded, her teaching methods still considered her students’ personalities and point-of-views.

In PT practice, I think that the same strategy could also be applied. Surely, every individual is unique so it is very important that you come up with activities meaningful and purposeful for them. Always consider their functional goals, characteristics and personalities in order to help you conduct a productive and effective therapy session. Exhaust all possibilities within the limits of your professional skills until you have achieved your shared goals.