I watched these two movies last night. Both were good shows that held my attention well. What really thought me thinking was the female lead in the movie,Erin Gruwell (Freedom Writers) and Vivian Ward (Pretty Woman). It got me thinking about what kind of person I want to be. I suppose I do want a bit of both.
In Freedom Writers, Ms Gruwell is a teacher challenged by her students who are Black, Latino, and Asian street gangsters, who hate her even more than each other, mainly due to her being White. She tries ways and means to teach them about racism and respect. In her bid to better understand them, she gives them journals so they can write about the past, present, future, good days and bad ones. As she reads, she becomes amazed at their stories and hardships.
She listens to them in a way no adult has ever done, she begins to understand that these kids believe that surviving is enough - that they are not delinquents but teenagers fighting "a war of the streets" that began long before they were born. For the first time, the teens experience hope that they can show the world that their lives matter and that they have something to say.
Vivian Ward on the other hand, is a lucky prostitute who bumps into Edward aka Prince Charming on the streets. He pays her to look good, to be his " professional social escort, someone to be at his beck and call" and lavishes her with money to buy branded clothes/goods. They dine in fancy restaurants, stay in a posh hotel, watch operas and attend grand parties/functions. As fate would have it, what initially was a "corporate deal", ended up with them falling in love. And Edward finally mustered enough courage to ask for her hand and they lived happily ever after.
Like Vivian, I would also like to have Prince Charming to sweep me off my feet, take me on a whirlwind romance, provide me with a comfortable lifestyle and make my dreams come true. You know, the kind where I could morph from a sparrow to a phoenix.
On the other hand, I believe my life should be much more meaningful than that, like that of Miss Gruwell whereby I can change and inspire people for the better.
Its like living for yourself vs living for others. I always want the best for myself, nothing lesser, and I want to be happy while being the best I can. However, I have realised that more often than not, when you are trying to make other lives better, you might have to make sacrifices. Like how, Ms Gruwell ended up with a divorce because she was a much better teacher than a wife. I am envious of Vivian, that she found true love in a most unlikely manner. But I admire and respect Ms Gruwell even more, because of her strength and perserverance to overcome all odds to stand by her belief.
The hard part is really trying to find a balance, to decide which one matters more to you because at the end of the day, its really about how purposeful you want your life to be. I don't need people to envy me/my life for the things I did not fight for/earn. I'd rather lead one whereby I earn respect and admiration because I am able to inspire others with what I have.
Ate Apple Pie@
Sunday, April 01, 2007
