“Every team that’s here deserves to be, including you,” coach Jim White said. I knew that when he said these words they had deeper roots; they had reached to mine.

Walt Disney’s “Mcfarland, USA,” which premiered Feb. 20, isn’t just about a race. It is about finding a home in a place where you are needed.

“McFarland, USA” is a great movie and I would recommend it to any person with a passion.

Pickers are what the runners in the movie defined themselves and their families as. Their parents had come to America in hope of a better life. They worked hard for their earnings and were good, honest people. They didn’t rely on the government for help or complain about how cruel life was to them.

Instead, they did what was needed in order to survive and live happy. They deserved to be here in America more than anybody else. As a result, they raised young men who would take on their heart and work ethic and go on to become champions. These young men would go on to form a winning cross country team of seven. They would soon change the lives of those around them, including coach White who only went to McFarland because he couldn’t find other work. They would transform the meaning of home for White and his family.

It was truly amazing to see how humble Thomas, Jose, Johnny, David, Danny, Victor, and Damacio were. They weren’t only humble but high spirited, hungry for more, brave and strong. They were the perfect example of a success story. These boys had everything to lose. The odds were stacked against them. Every day of their lives as they made their way to school, they were reminded that they were nothing more than a liability. At their first meet, the lead runner, Thomas Valles, was dominating in the race then he encountered his first hill. He had never run hills before so he was unable to keep up and ended up coming in with a high time which is bad in cross country. The loss hurt, it stung deep down. They knew they were better.

They knew that this was about more than the race. It meant finding their self confidence and sense of belonging. When it all comes down to it, I believe that is what the directors really wanted to amplify.

The most exciting moment in the movie was when Danny Diaz, the anchor runner who was fairly larger than most, sprinted the last 800 meters in his race. Danny was the heart of the team. He ran just as much as the other boys despite his size and stature, and he never gave up. He might come slower than others but he never gave up.

McFarland had so many symbolic features. It was truly a movie to see. Filled with hope, joy and excitement.

Every person deserves to belong and McFarland gave that sense of belonging back to me. The movie reminded me that it’s okay to be different and not be the most wealthy. No matter where one comes from, success is always an option as long as a heart of work is at hand. A heart like Danny Diaz, the chubby boy who didn’t give up because he wasn’t fast enough. A heart like Thomas Valles, the boy who barely had anything because his father couldn’t find work. A heart like coach White, who didn’t walk away from his boys when they needed him.