Determination ; meaning "a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult." Determination is an absolutely crucial aspect of creating a positive change in your life. Whether that change be improving your grades, or changing your attitude. Brian Tracy, the motivational speaker, said "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude towards what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." which was written to help people see that they have more control of their lives than they think - if they find the inspiration and determination to do so, that is. Sometimes a persons life can be changed after they make the conscious decision to shape all of their decisions and thoughts around a simple idea. One can live a fulfilled, joyous life by simply changing their point of view. By learning to master change rather than letting change master them, one will not only find peace within themselves and situations they are faced with, but may possibly help others see the blissful truth about change as well. Although this isn't typically something that is taught in school, analyzing and breaking down a truly inspiring quote like Brian Tracy's and applying it to their life as a lesson is a truly beautiful learning experience that one could not get out of a textbook or taught in a classroom - which in a way is rather disappointing. If teachers aspired to inspire their students to better themselves FOR themselves rather than following a curriculum at all times, students would not only feel more motivated and determined to go to school and learn, but they would find themselves feeling inspired to be more than what they are.
During the 2007 film, Freedom Writers, the Idealistic character, Erin Grunwall, a newly graduated Freshman - Sophomore English teacher has her first teaching job at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Eastside, Long Beach, California. A school where students live by generations of strict moral codes of protecting their own at all cost. One student in the film states, "I don't even know how this war started. It's just two sides that tripped each other way back. Who cares about the history behind it? I am my father's daughter, and when they call me to testify, I will protect my own, no matter what." In the beginning of the film, Erin Grunwall wasn't familiar with the lifestyles of her under-privileged students, not had she ever had never been exposed to gang related issues. But rather than backing down from her teaching position, Erin felt intrigued by her students. She was not ready to give up on them just yet. In fact, Erin never did give up on her students. Throughout the film, she demonstrates such a love and passion to not only teach her students English, but to also show them that there is more to life than protecting their own - that life has much more to offer them than they think. She gives her students hope - she inspires them to be more - to believe in themselves. She shows them that one can live a fulfilled, joyous life by simply changing their point of view. Erin Grunwall's relationships with her students are perfect examples of how a mixture of life experience and in class room education is an ideal mix for learning.
During the 1989 film, Dead Poet's Society, the character Mr. Keeting, also an English teacher, was inspired by and passionate about poetry. But not only was he inspired and passionate about poetry - he was inspired and passionate about his students. Students who have been sheltered and treated like puppets their entire lives - always being told who they were rather than deciding for themselves. Mr. Keeting expresses the term "Carpe Diem!" to his students, meaning "Seize the day!" - take charge and make the best of your life. He pushes his students to write poetry, to be themselves, to live and to discover their true selves. Mr. Keeting's students truly look up to him - they see him as someone of inspiration. The relationships Mr. Keeting had build with his student's are another great example of how a mixture of life experience and class room education is a true ideal mix for learning. He got the best of his students, both in the classroom and out of the classroom, because of how he inspired his students. Shaping their minds to be determined to simply be themselves and notice how beautiful life is made his students not only better students, but better people.
Real life experiences are equal to what you learn in school because of how one truly reflects the other. Without real life experiences, one may never feel truly inspired or determined to get an in school education in the first place. The film Freedom Writers is a perfect example of how life experiences made students determined and inspired to do better in school. And vise versa ; if the students in The Dead Poet's society hadn't been pushed through school their entire lives, being treated like puppets, not being allowed to control their own lives, the students most likely wouldn't appreciate how important and wonderful real life experiences truly are. Life experiences are equal to what you learn in school due to the fact that both head knowledge & learning experiences will get you to places you couldn't get to with the other.
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