Stand and Deliver

Jaime Escalante: [to his students] ... There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do. *Math* is the great equalizer... When you go for a job, the person giving you that job will not want to hear your problems; ergo, neither do I. You're going to work harder here than you've ever worked anywhere else. And the only thing I ask from you is *ganas.* *Desire.*

[Passing one boy, he ruffles up the student's hair]

Jaime Escalante: And maybe a haircut.

[Everyone laughs]

Jaime Escalante: If you don't have the *ganas,* I will give it to you because I'm an expert.