The Fletcher in Me
If you have watched Whiplash, for sure, you know who
Fletcher in the movie is. Out of all the Oscar nominees for 2014, Whiplash is
the first movie I had watched, followed by the Theory of Everything which I had
to watch on installment.
Fletcher is a the last name of the antagonist in the movie
Whiplash, he is the conductor/teacher for a jazz band, Shaffers and Shakers, in
a certain university. He is not an ordinary teacher, he curses a lot, throws
things, very strict and never ends the practice until the players get his
tempo. Yet, he had gained enormous respect in the jazz music circle. He is
well-renowned for his very high standards and very well-played pieces.
I had a couple of Fletchers in my life. There were really
days that I would feel so down and hopeless yet this I-can-prove-you-wrong attitude
in me lingers. Actually, it wasn’t. It was really the thought of
as-soon-as-I-graduate-I-can-be-free idea that kept me going. They were the
fletchers who would get my bag and stuff and put them all on the table, check
my notebooks to see if I write on them. They were the Fletchers who would scold
me at the breakfast table, eating and tears would just fall endlessly. One of
them even told me, “Panget ka,” just because it came to their knowledge that I
have a crush in school. They were the Fletchers who would speak so much words
about my father being a failure.
They speak so much because they knew that I will never ever
get discouraged, as if I had a choice. I probably had a choice back then but
where would have that gotten me today? Their Fletcher attitude pushed me to go
beyond my limits of being a teenager and a dreamer. For pushing me so hard, I
never learned to hate them. I had always been grateful to them. They have my
utmost respect. I am what I am today because of them.
There were also days that I am like Fletcher to my own kids
in school. No more soft, endearing words. Tough, harsh words come out of my
mouth. There were also days that I let notebooks fly, especially on the days
that they aren’t on task. Judge me if you must, but if I don’t do that and don’t
let the Fletcher in me out, I don’t know how to survive the classroom. Another
thing is, I know they can handle it.
If I sound like Fletcher which can be so often if the
situation calls for (which is very exhausting), it’s not that I don’t believe, it is with great belief
that I say things or do things so you can prove me wrong because, the real
achiever never gets discouraged.
It's your period. Hahaha! Kidding....
ReplyDeleteThere are times that we need to bring out the Fletcher in us. Well, for me, it has always been Darth Vader (the evil geek in me).
Pero there's a big difference between the malicious Fletcher and the Fletcher who knows his thing.
Madalas kasi kaya may mga "evil boss" na laging nang haharass ng employee kasi they are on top of their game at alam nila ang ginagawa nila, and they know how high the standards are. IN fact, they set the standards. Kaya ganon na lang minsan sila kahigpit sa employees.
We shouldn't lose our edge. Although happy employees can be productive, still precision and quality can be produced by a good tight grip of the manager.
it is a necessity that when the Fletcher Mode is on, that for something Fletcher knows very well. It is imperative that Fletcher knows. Not just for the sake of pushing people to move but for setting the bar higher.
DeleteYeah, most of the time, it's the period that ignites the Fletcher mode. Hahaha:P LOL
I don't know if the Fletcher in me can be unleashed. I'm the quiet, I'll take it type of person, then I'd go home, lock my door and cry. If someone has done me wrong, I'll just smile and go on but deep inside I hurt and sometimes hate the world.
ReplyDeleteI've had many Fletchers while growing up - the endless taunting of classmates of "ang taba mo, huwag ka nang kumain". I took 'em all with a smile, but deep inside I was enraged. I don't know if I have even forgiven them.
Oh my... Kayni, you're so bait, i used to be like that too. I used to always take words personally. Sobrang composed mo lang siguro lagi. Pero minsan mas nakaktakot magalit yung tulad mo.
DeleteBut when I started working, I worked with a very pushy team who always wants to be on top of the game, so ako, kapag pinapagalitan nila ako, ang unang reminder nila, I should never ever take things personally. It worked for me. I miss being surrounded by people who knows how to push each other to be always at their best.
Mapanood nga yang whiplash, ng makilala ko si Fletcher
ReplyDeleteNapanood mo na? Hehehe
DeleteI've seen your semi-Fletcher persona, mas malala na siguro kung Fletcher mode na.
ReplyDeleteThat's not a semi-Fletcher mode you've seen in my classroom. That is my Fletcher mode on :P
Deleteteachers need to be Fletcher sometimes, we have to discipline our students.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Sindakan ang labanan. Pero di dapat lagi. Tsaka dapat may processing. Importanteng-importante na marealize ng kids na they can do more if they want to.
DeleteI have not seen the movie but with your descriptions and narrations, ahh! another Fletcher in here. A lot of people had complained that it is difficult working with me because I put high standards in all things. This is not true, I just separate friendship with professional work. I get angry most of the time but through age, I had mellowed down.
ReplyDeletethere's really nothing wrong with aiming for High Standards because we must value quality. Too bad, many are mediocre.
DeleteI love working with people with high standards as long as its attainable. Work is work. I used to always get a comment that Im too upfront when it comes to work but that's how its done eh. Straightforward and no non-sense talk.
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