Subtitle: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them
I bought this book back in September when we were going away for my birthday but only just got around to starting it this weekend. I loved it. I cried almost the entire way through it, but in a good way. In a wow, these kids are inspiring and amazing way.
The one down side of reading this book is my own habit to compare my own achievements with those of others. I look at these kids from violent neighborhoods and in some cases violent families and think to myself, man, look at them overcoming all these odds to do great things, what the heck are you doing with your life? Yeah, I wouldn’t talk to anyone else like that, either.
The main thing I think these kids have as an advantage, though, is a person who refuses to give up on them. Their teacher, Erin Gruwell, just Does. Not. Quit. Her sheer determination to help these kids turn their lives around is so inspiring. I’ve already bought her memoir, Teaching with Your Heart, and will be reading it next. And oh, look, they also made the story of these kids’ transformation into a movie. Put that one on the list.
One of big takeaways from this book for me is that I want a Ms. G in my own life. Of course that isn’t news to me, it’s something I’ve been craving for a long time, and yes, I want to internalize that role as well, but I’m still kind of convinced that it makes a big difference if you have someone who isn’t you believing in you to the point where they just refuse to believe that you won’t succeed, won’t reach your potential, and they push you, they challenge you, they help you draw out the best of yourself. I want that. No idea how to find it, but I want it.
Meanwhile, I highly recommend this book. It’s profoundly inspiring and a quick read to boot. Enjoy!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey, D, this is one of the things I miss most about my mom, is having a cheerleader, someone who absolutely believes in me. Finding a “mentor” could be an option. Oddly, I’ve actually been thinking about find a new “mom” to “adopt” me!
the movie wasn’t completely true to the book, but was still quite good.
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I read this book when I was making my career transition from politico to public school teacher. I cried my eyes out. LOVED it!
The movie? Not so much.
Educating Esme is also another gem in the new-teacher-is- genius genre.
I just reserved her other books from the library. I’m looking for some inspiration. Thanks!
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I really hope you get a coach type person who believes in you, pushes you, to get where you want to go. Ever considered a life coach? I’m sure you have but it seems to me that’d be one place to start.
.-= Rachel DuBois´s last blog ..Punk spinning and why you should try it =-.