The Freedom Writers

I choose the movie name “The Freedom Writers”, release in 2007 but now it can be found on Netflix. It’s based on a book that was published in 1999. It’s about a young teacher who inspire her students to learn about tolerance and applying it to themselves and pursue their education in school because the school is a warehouse for the students to hang around and drop out and also really diversify where blacks, asians, latinos and white folks are part of violent gangs that don’t get along.

The reason why I choose this movie is that violence and death are so present right now with whatever’s going on and people’s voice are not being heard and seeing history repeats itself is just tiring. People are confronted with violence in their neighborhood that sometimes they feel like they don’t have control over it. I remember a part of the movie when the teacher ask a student about his graduation and the kid said something like “I don’t even know if I’ll make it to my sixteenth birthday”. This kind of relate to what’s happening to black people who are afraid for their life because their skin is a treat and no one should feel that way.

Who I Am!

Hellooo My name is Fatou M. Gaye

As a young girl, I always knew what I wanted to do or say, but, I was scared to speak up in front of people. I deeply cared about other people’s opinions. In Senegal, being shy was a sign of respect towards adults. Children are taught to lower their stare when they look at an older person. When I came to the U.S.  I was reticent towards people. I was not used to the way they interacted. But as time went by, I realized that I would have to adapt, change, and mold myself. I was not exactly sure how to do that. But, I was sure that I needed to figure it out. I realized that I needed to share my ideas and show people who I was. I had to get out of my comfort zone. I needed to find my voice. Singing was something that helped me a lot. I push myself to perform on stage and also acting which really help plus I’m a big fan of Disney and musical shows…

 I choose this major so that I can play a role in someone else’s life. Anything that can add value it doesn’t matter how, I always wanted to help and influence people. So I really hope for this to be the right path for me.