Joy Isaguirre | Musings of a Blog Convert

The morning Mr. Hundert made a difference

During my second day at our Ministry to the Youth class, my Professor asked me and my classmates to sit back and relax, grab some snacks, and watch a movie entitled, “The Emperor’s Club.” 

photo credit: universal studios

Now for a late enrollee, i never thought i’d be able to adjust in time, let alone enjoy myself in this class. For the past two weeks, i’ve learned a lot through the lessons and discussions we had as a group.  But on that specific day, i would like to think that i didn’t just learn, i was challenged. 

Allow me to explain.  As our morning class went on, i soon found myself very engrossed while watching the film.  The Emperor’s Club is a story about a passionate and idealistic teacher (Mr. Hundert) who attempts to not only teach but also instill values and mold the lives of his students. To go beyond the student-teacher relationship, by influencing his students and sharing the values and principles he upholds. A very difficult and noble task, if you ask me.

photo credit: universal studios

One of the things that really stood out for me in the film is the conversation between Mr. Hundert and Senator Bell (father of Sedgewick Bell, one of his students). 

William Hundert: “Sir, it’s my job to mold your son’s character, and I think if…”

Senator Bell: “Mold him? You’re not gonna mold my boy. Your job is to teach my son. You teach him his times tables. Teach him why the world is round. Teach him who killed who and when and where. That is your job. You, sir, will not mold my son. I will mold him.”

My mind began to wonder, who really has the duty to mold anyone? Is it really the obligation of the parents to their child/ren?  Or perhaps a duty of the teachers to their students, may it be in elementary, primary, college or even graduate school.  And who really has the authority to mold someone’s character? Is it a parent, a teacher, a pastor, an older relative, a youth minister, a church leader, a mentor, a coach, or a friend perhaps?

These questions kept on tumbling through my head, one after the other.  Then i started to ask myself, has someone made that kind of impact in my life?  The way Mr. Hundbert influenced the lives of his students (with the exception of one student).  And what if i were Mr. William Hundert, what if i have the noble task and opportunity to mold another person’s character, but somehow failed to influence that person.  Would i throw in the towel and give up? Or would i take the high road like Mr. Hundert who continued to have high hopes, even after 25 years, that the student he once tried to mold would find and walk on the right path.

These were all tough questions, and i sure hope that one of these days i’ll be able to answer them one by one.  But there’s this one nagging question that i can’t seem to ignore.  The more i try to shake it off, all the more it starts to haunt me.  And that question is, “What about me, have i made any impact in another person’s life?”

Just when you think you’re there to enjoy a good movie, suddenly it hits you in the face like cold water in a warm summer’s day.  As i left the class that day, i knew in my heart that i didn’t just learn something, i left with a gigantic challenge on my shoulder. 

As a memorable line in the film says, “In everyone’s life there’s that one person who makes all the difference.”

Hopefully, the day will come when i’ll get the chance to say that i made a difference in a person’s life.