Movie Review: Coach Carter

Ok, don't laugh, I know I'm watching this waaaaaaaaaaaay after everybody else.. but still..

Coach Carter is such an inspiring show! It's like the French movie, Les Choristes that I watched some time long ago.

In both movies, the protagonist teacher makes a difference to the lives of the students by bringing out a passion and a spirit to excel in them. Along the way, the students learn to respect themselves and others, eventually becoming not only better basketball players or singers but better people. Even though there's the obligatory 'down in the dumps' portion where the coach gets fired, he has inspired his students to believe in his cause and in themselves so much that they carry on his legacy and his ideals.

It seems so amazing and idealistic to teachers immersed in the gritty reality of dealing with one problem student after another. But is great to see this reminder that teachers really can make a difference and be an influence because of their strong belief in their students.

Of course, the ideas carried across are not ony applicable to the teaching profession. Any good leader would want to do the same. The better leader is definitely the person who starts with the worse-off team and motivates them to gel together and believe in themselves, rather than the one who starts with people with a great attitude already and yet does not develop their character further.

I really hope I can do so with my students and my ushers. To be a person who causes them to believe in themselves and the God-given abilities and talents placed in them. To develop character, moral fibre and self-respect so that they will stand strong in tough times. To, by the administration of discipline and systems, cause them to gel together and work towards our common cause. To impart the vision we are working towards so well that they will continue to work towards it and further it even when I am no longer there.

Jiayou!