How might learning to empathize require people to challenge expectations of themselves and others?

Great question! In the book The Freedom Writers Diary, many of the students learn to empathize with others.

Through the students’ readings and educational experiences, many of the students learn to empathize with different individuals. Although the students may not exactly relate to some of the characters or heroic individuals (such as Anne Frank), many find aspects of the stories to relate to and empathize with in their own lives.

As a result of...

Great question! In the book The Freedom Writers Diary, many of the students learn to empathize with others.

Through the students’ readings and educational experiences, many of the students learn to empathize with different individuals. Although the students may not exactly relate to some of the characters or heroic individuals (such as Anne Frank), many find aspects of the stories to relate to and empathize with in their own lives.

As a result of their new empathy, many of the individuals are challenged to change their expectations of others and themselves. For example, "problem students" who have not expected much from themselves have realized that they are “heroes” and should make a difference in the world. As Miep reveals to the students:

“You are the heroes. You are heroes every day.”

Furthermore, they have also learned to empathize with others. Instead of aligning themselves with their own ethnic background or gang, students began to care and unite with individuals from very different backgrounds.

Thus, in the story, many of the students learn to empathize with characters and individuals from books. Consequently, they eventually start empathizing with others in their own classroom and begin to challenge expectations of themselves and others.