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The People Who Changed In The Freedom Writers Diary

Decent Essays

In the book, The Freedom Writers Diary, the students came from violent backgrounds and neighborhoods. Because they attended a school with many privileged people, they were looked down on as drug users or gang members who were destined to die or become nonentities. Many of their teachers thought that because they grew up around drugs and violence, they were lost causes and would never change. Through the students’ efforts and other people’s help, they proved the close-minded people wrong and ended out coming out on top. The book depicts how many of the students changed into better people, who eventually became role models. One example of someone who changed drastically is the person from Diary 23. This person skipped school for three weeks because he was smoking and hanging out with friends. He came back to school and Ms. Gruwell was very concerned about him. When she asked why he didn't come to school he said, “Nobody cares about what I do so why should I bother to come to school?”(45) This proves that once others stop caring about children and their troubles, the children themselves …show more content…

This person was part of a gang in which one of the members shot and killed somebody. Somebody from their rival gang was being falsely accused of this murder. Since the author of this diary witnessed the murder, she had testify in court. Her family and friends constantly told her that she couldn't go against her own people. Before being in Ms. G’s class, she would have gladly protected her own, but she was rethinking her choice now. She saw the falsely accused man’s daughter, which reminded her of herself and how she felt when her father wrongfully went to jail. Because of the time she spent in Ms. Gruwell’s class and her past experiences, she decided to tell the truth, regardless of the consequences that would follow. Not only did she change, but she believed that she could change the way things were in the

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