‘The Guardian’: A Story of Mentorship, Transitions and Sacrifice
It’s an old movie about the elite Coast Guard rescue divers starring Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Costner. When it came out, I did not expect to like this movie. But it’s so well done: the actual training and the great cinematography. But at heart it’s a great story. Senior Chief Randall played, by Costner, is a veteran elite diver, sent to be an instructor at training school after an accident in the field kills his crew. He is recovering and trying to get back into mental and physical shape after his traumatic experience. He runs into a cocky but very talented young trainee named Fischer played by Kutcher. After a rough start, they develop respect and Randle becomes his mentor in the way. It’s a story of struggle, overcoming challenges both mental and physical but also of friendship, service and sacrifice. It really draws you in.
I love and respect the inspiring ethos of the US Coast Guard: “So others may live.”
So many great scenes here but the one that stands out to me.
When the class finishes their final test, the head instructor tells them.
“I have high hopes for this class.”
Then he looks at his mentee & says “I have high hopes for you.”
I have been so fortunate in my life and career to run into and have good mentors. Especially ones who have done what you want to do and really do care and look for you. They are also ones who push you to be the best you can be. They see something in you that you can’t yourself.
I am grateful to all of them. And I will hope to share the wisdom they shared with me and pass it on. I also take to heart some of the advice given. While I am not saving lives like coast guard rescue divers, I try to help as many people as I can. There is so much pain and suffering and tragedy out there that it can be overwhelming. It’s so overwhelming it’s easy to feel powerless and do nothing.
Chief Randalls advice here:
“Honor Your Gift: Save the Ones You Can….The Rest You Gotta Let Go.”
You do the best that you can.
There is another scene when Fisher asks the Chief:
“When you can’t save them all, how do you choose who lives?”
Randall replies: “Probably different for everyone. Kind of simple for me. I just take the first one I come to, or the weakest one in the group. And then I swim as fast and hard as I can and as hard as I can. And the sea takes the rest.”
Remember you can’t save the children but you can save a child. Start there. Good advice for life.
I’ll end with a final quote from the movie. “What makes a legend? Is it what someone did when they were alive or how they were remembered when they were gone.”