FREEDOM WRITERS: The Power to ChangeBy: Marjorie Ann Sheena D. Macarayo, RNEducation is not the filling of a pail; it is the lighting of a fire.- William Butler Yeats -Education systems were created to provide a sense of harmony between all educators across a country. Similar to following a grand scheme of things, everything makes sense when everyone is in accordance with the way of the education system. Not only does an education system make every process streamlined for ease of usage, but it also organizes the way things should be taught which differs per subject area.The problem with too much streamlining of the education system is that it does not cater specifically to the needs of every unique student, which results in less-than-stellar grades in general. Although it can be argued that the way of the education system is a tried-and-tested formula that has been used for decades, the fact still remains that there will always be a student that is left out because of the education systems limitation towards custom-fitting a teaching style for a students benefit. Such is the essence of the movie Freedom Writers, which passionately shows that the education system does not always provide the only solution towards a classroom predicament.The teacher in the film clearly depicted a teachers noblest intention of making the students learn by understanding their histories and personal conflicts; and using such as a means to identify the problem at hand and provide a solution for them. The teacher went beyond her scope of support, taking two part-time jobs to pay for her students books (which, ironically, the school deprived her students of because of their past as gang members as an insinuation that they are beyond hope of teaching) and even sacrificing her own time by having extended classroom hours for her students. Eventually, the teacher earned her students trust and respect by showing that she was willing to do whatever it takes for her students to learn not only her subject, but invaluable life lessons as well. The success of her class grabbed the attention of a local newspaper, which irked tenured teachers who were used to the old ways of teaching. Their main contention came when the teachers class was entering the junior year, and they still wanted her to be their teacher since they considered her class as a safe haven where neither discrimination nor violence happens and everyone knew and understood each other intimately. Sadly, only those with more years of teaching under their belt were allowed to teach juniors. That did not stop the teacher from making a concerted effort for her class, though. After much deliberation among those in authority, her request to teach the juniors was not just granted, but extended up until the senior year. The class celebrated jubilantly, which inspired the school to recreate the success of their class towards the others by making a program dedicated to improving the grades of those who have lost interest in learning or have been victims of gang-related violence.This movie is a very powerful film that serves as both an eye-opener towards the blatant flaws of so many education systems in the world, and a realization that even one teachers lone voice of reason can make a great impact not only in her students but also towards her fellow educators. No wonder the world considers teaching as arguably the most noble profession in the world, because teachers have always had the power to change the world for the better by doing their jobs as ideal as possible!