prof submitted is my movie reflection revision.
Regis Cebu Leadership
Leader ANDRE LITO LADAN
Movie reflection
For my movie leadership paper, I opted to do the movie "Coach Carter". The movie is primarily a basketball movie that deals with the realities of a student athlete's life. The movie depicts Coach Ken Carter who is a successful sporting goods store owner, accepts the job of basketball coach for his old high school in a poor area of Richmond, CA, where he was a champion athlete. What he saw pretty much depicts the usual life of student athletes where their laziness and rampant violation of academic policies and requirement are tolerated as long as the team is winning. Disappointed by the poor attitudes of his players as well as their dismal academic performance, Carter took it upon himself to change the status quo. He immediately imposed a strict regime typified in written contracts that include stipulations for respectful behavior, a dress code and good grades as requisites to being allowed to participate. The changes introduced were meant to put discipline and accountability to his players. As expected many resisted the new policy being implemented by the coach, however his students began to appreciate the tough love and began following the agreement with coach carter. Coach carter did this because he cared for the students and wants to them to learn from the school to enrich their lives. The initial resistance from the boys is soon dispelled as the team under Carter's tutelage becomes undefeated competitor in the games. However, when the team's behavior begins to stray and Carter learns that too many players are doing poorly in academics, he takes immediate action. To the outrage of the team, the school and the community, Carter cancels all team activities and locks the court until the team shows acceptable academic improvement. Carter was besieged by everyone in the community from co-teachers, parents and regular residents. Carter remained resolute and was determined to teach his wards that there is more to life than basketball, that education is something that cannot be taken away. Eventually he found out that he has indeed deeply affected his wards more than he expected.
What is the learning?
One of the first things I learned from the movie is the difficulty in standing up for your principles. Even though he was the coach and a well loved persona in his neighborhood, there was tremendous resistance when he closed the gym. Parents, teachers, students and residents alike questioned his intentions. It seems the whole community was at an uproar because of the closed gym. With these in mind, I learned that when you go against the grain and stand up for what you believe is right you must be ready for the backlash. A lot of times, people do stand up for their principles. But as time goes on, as opposition becomes stronger most of them can't stand the heat. It is one thing to be brave enough to say no, its another to have the courage to see that decision through.
Another learning that can be taken from the movie is that love and compassion is an important ingredient of leadership. Though Coach Carter has the ascendancy and the pedigree to become the coach it wasn't enough to win over his players who were mostly black living in an impoverished neighborhood. Leadership is about caring for those under you. It's not just about the number of points your team can put on the scoreboard but also look out for their welfare.
What is the learning in relation to what we have learned
In reference to J Campbells hero with a thousand faces, the hero Coach Ken Carter indeed starts in the ordinary world. As a retired athlete beloved by his home town, he has his own sporting goods store. He was loved and well respected by the community that saw him as its hero.
It also follows J Campbells stages where the hero is called to an adventure. In the movie Coach Carter was offered to coach his alma mater Richmond High School. As one of its most accomplished sons, Coach Carter was indeed called to an adventure to coach the high school basketball team. As the school's greatest product the pressure was on him to produce at a high level.
At the third stage of J. Cambells hero with a thousand faces, Coach Carter faces a number of trials. First is the removal of his best player in the team and the arrival of his son in Richmond High who quit private high school to be with him. These trials tested the mettle of the character, wherein Coach Carter did not tolerate the misdemeanors of his best player though it is a school norm. he was able to impart an important lesson to his best player while getting him back on the team. Coach Carter was also able to mend fences with his son and reach a happy middle in their relationship.
The hero "Coach Carter" had his most intense trial when he found out that even though they have been winning games, his team is performing very poorly when it comes to academics. He locked down the gym and threatened the team that unless they improve their grades first the gym will be kept locked. Parents, School officials were enraged to the point were an assembly was called to decide on the matter. Coach Carter explained that he is locking down the gym because he doesn't want his students to be criminals. Because the student athletes were above reproached just so the school was winning, the children were missing out on life's lessons and their preparation for their future. Sports then becomes more detrimental because as soon as they graduate from high school the students couldn't get accepted because they couldn't pass college entrance tests. Coach Carter was steadfast in his principles and even the public and most of the board went against him he still locked down the gym. He eventually got the support of his own students. The students brought their studies in the gym until they studied enough to pass.
As with J Campbell the hero survives and the boon which is the importance of learning and the future gets shared with the rest of his students. They lost the final game of the season but the students still won out because they've solidified their future.
The movie ends without the boon or learning being used to improve the world, but as you watch the end credits you can see that most of his athletes have been accepted to college programs and have done well, those who were not able to lead pretty productive lives. This manifests that the boon was still used to improve the world even though the movie ended.
The film Coach Carter centered on two personalities, that of a reformer and a challenger. He changed things armed with a strong sense of right and wrong. He was a teacher and a crusader. Though the whole community was against him he was firm in his resolve and believed that he puts the interests of his students first. He was also a straight talker and would confront naysayers head on.
Coach Carter is my favorite character in this movie and I can probably relate a part of my life to his character. During my stint in PSG (Presidential Security Group) I was one of the youngest members of the group that plans advance security preparations for Presidential engagements, and because of my youth I am often clashing swords with senior officers who look down at my youth. I rarely back down, I remember calling the shot to cancel a President's event even though the mayor is an ally of the President. Military commanders in the area were insisting that I give in but I wouldn't budge. I'd rather lose my job than endanger the Commander in Chief.
How this will help you become a better leader?
The learnings from the movie certainly puts things in perspective. As I have mentioned earlier knowing to stand up for what is right is good but do we have the perseverance to actually see it through. Most of today's leaders lack the courage to see their choices through. Through this movie it helps me see the difficulty of standing up for your choices when they are right. It also helps me improve my resolve when standing up for what is right and admittedly to choose my battles wisely. When I was younger I was bullish especially when I was right, I was ready to fight for my principles. But as you grow older one also discovers that sometimes silence speaks louder than war. That you can have courage by not really being confrontational, and being cunning is as important as being courageous.
Another concept that can help me become a better leader is the compassion Coach Carter has when it comes to his students. He maybe strict but he shows genuine concern. As a leader I believe showing genuine concern for my people will help me earn their trust and cooperation faster. Being in the military, trust is an important part of what we do. I believe my soldiers will be more receptive if I cared for them deeply enough. It is just a matter of spending more time with them and knowing them on a more personal level. (love from Chris Lowney - even in the military!>
My life in pursuit of evolution is not perfect. I've made wrong turns and decisions that were at times costly. But I made sure that I've learned from them. I've also endeavored to affect people positively and improve whatever that surrounds me. As it is with my credo, Good relationships, Better self and the Best in others
No comments:
Post a Comment