Erin Gruwell

Photo of Erin Gruwell and Maria Reyes at the Hollywood Premiere of "Freedom Writers" presented by Paramount Pictures. (http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/g/T/O/freedomwritersprem13.jpg)

My Hero is Erin Gruwell. She has helped kids with problems by starting Freedom Writers which is also a movie now. She lives in Long Beach, California. Erin Gruwell was born in Glendora California U.S.A on August 15, 1970. Erin Gruwell is important to me because she made a difference in many kids, mostly teen’s, lives. And she makes people feel good about themselves by encouraging them, by having them express their feelings into a journal. She helped them cope with their everyday problems.

She is my hero because I think it is amazing to be able to take a group of students who hate school and turn them into a group that look forward to returning every day. She is such an inspiration. She also has made a difference in my life by giving me good advice. Because now when I have a problem, instead of fussing like I used to about my problems with my family and friends when it wasn’t even their fault, I just write it down because it’s not worth fussing over anymore and it just wasn’t right.

By doing that, there has been a “BIG” improvement for me and my family. We all get along better and we do more things together as a family. We make the best out of life because we all realize that life is too short. And everyone else should realize it too. Like Erin Gruwell says “Don't let the actions of a few determine the way you feel about an entire group.”

Did you know she worked three jobs just to help her students? She is now helping nearly 150 inner city high school students who had been ignored or written off by the education system. And most of them now are achieving their dream of going to college. Erin and her students have also appeared on television shows such as Oprah, and Good Morning America. Her class has been seen in the Newspapers, People Magazine, and has been heard on national radio.