The Freedom Writers Diary is evidence that if you have faith in a situation, the possiblities are endless.

Ms. Gruwell is a typical new teacher, afraid herself of what she is going to find in her new school which is Wilson High in Long Beach, CA. In fact, at the beginning of her journey, her students gave her a month or two before she’d give up on them and leave. That fortunately wasn’t the case. She refuses to give up on the students, believing they are a lost cause in need of help.

The students that Ms. Gruwell had were the ones expected to drop out of high school and never make their way to graduation. That perception all changed when Ms. Gruwell had faith in these kids. Every other teacher doubted them, never giving them a chance.

Ms. Gruwell actually got to know her students, she realized that these kids are in an undeclared war. There’s a war that is going on because of the different races. Everyone has to stick up for their background.

These kids live in neighborhoods surrounded by gangsters and drug dealers. Most of them have seen their friend shot, if not have been shot themselves. The girls have been molested, and abused both physically and mentally.

Ms. Gruwell changes from a stranger into a mother-like figure, listening and caring for the students. They finally have the chance to speak their opinions, without feeling like they will be judged. The classroom became a place to open up and seek help.

The students also brighten up in the classroom, as they read about books that relate to their own situations. They also travel to many places to get first-hand experience. They even meet a number of people who change their lives. One is Miep Geis, she tells these students that they are the heroes. It is surprising when the students hear that, because no one had even given them such an honor.

Thanks to the visit from Miep Geis, the students believe they can change the world. That is when they start writing journal entries inspired by Zlata Filipovic, a 15 year old girl who went through her own war in Bosnia. She believed that writing helps to escape from the horrific lives some have. Each student picked one journal entry that they thought changed their life.

The title “Freedom Writers” comes from learning about the Freedom Riders. While taking a field trip to Washington, the boys and girls of all races walking hand in hand, realizing that Martin Luther King Jr’s dream came true as they were it.

Photo Credit: http://www.visionmagazine.com/archives/0807/images/Freedom-Writers.jpg