Based on a true story, the film tells the story of a white football coach, White, who was forced to resign from other schools because of his temper problems and came to McFarland, the poorest Mexican town in the United States, to be a physical education teacher.
The students in this town have to get up and work at dawn. They can't afford drinks and can only drink tap water. Their parents are basically pickers.
In gym class, White was surprised to find that the students here are particularly good at running. So he proposed to the principal to form a cross-country running team. Under his leadership, the seven-man trail running team successfully defeated other teams from affluent areas with superior training conditions and won the first place in the state. With his encouragement, those children who might have inherited their father's business and dropped out of school to work as pickers were admitted to university and changed their destiny.
About warmth
Although this place in McFarland is poor and the security is not good, the people are simple and kind, and they are especially loyal.
Mothers in the small town will organize a charity sale to raise money to buy better sportswear and running shoes for the children of the trail running team.
When the trail running team made it to the state race, the store owner closed the store for the first time in 25 years just to be there to cheer on the kids. The Auto Club formed a long team, which carried the residents of the town and followed the participating bus all the way, which was very cool.
About education
I think the most important thing about this film is that it highlights the importance of education, and good education is inseparable from good teachers.
White is well-informed, so he can see the children's strengths at a glance, and avoid weaknesses; because he understands sports information and related policies, he can give the principal appropriate advice; because he understands the role of academic qualifications, he encourages children They go to college and change their destiny.
About persistence
Long-distance running is an endurance sport that requires a steady rhythm and even breathing. Whether it is going uphill or downhill, whether the road is rough or not, you just need to look straight ahead and keep going forward to reach the finish line.
Just like the road of life, when you feel extremely hard, don't forget the people around you, they are also silently enduring and climbing up.
As in the video:
“So when you are in pain out there on this mountain, I want you to remember, so is the guy next you and the guy in front of you. This is gonna come down to which runners can handle the pain. so, I want you to look them, and I want you to look at each other and ask yourself, 'who's tougher'.”
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