The first week of school is a fun and exciting time for everyone. First-years gallivant across campus, embracing their newly found freedom and getting to know their new home. All the upperclassmen greet each other fondly and swap stories about the cool things they did over the summer. There is a spirit of anticipation in the air as everyone waits for classes to begin.
On Monday everyone shows up to class ten minutes early in the outfit they spent way too long picking out the night before with their brand new spiral notebooks, ready to learn. However, as the week goes on, everyone starts to lose steam. Even though it is exciting, the first week is exhausting and scary, and by Wednesday all you want is for it to be 4:30 pm on Friday so you can move on to your weekend.
The second week of school is much less exciting. The shiny and new has worn off. The classes are starting to get harder as your teachers get serious. You gradually move into more complex material than “getting to know you” surveys. You miss home, your parents, your siblings, and of course, your pets. When Monday rolls around again, you feel defeated already. Every day in itself feels like a week, and you don’t think you can even make it to Wednesday, let alone Friday.
If you are feeling the “second week of school blues,” or just need a little something to help you make it to Friday, here are 12 amazing quotes from books, movies and TV shows that will encourage you, inspire you, and maybe make waiting for Friday just a little easier.
1. “You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself” – Elle Woods, Legally Blonde
When Elle started, she had no idea what she was doing. She was beaten and discouraged, and almost gave up. But, through her determination, sheer will, and a little help from her friends, Elle became the valedictorian of her class at Harvard Law School and learned, most importantly, how to believe in herself. You are can do incredible things. Don’t give up on yourself, you are capable of more than even you know.
2. “Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” – Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird
Starting is always the hardest part, especially when you know what you’re about to undertake is maybe too much for you. Take courage from Atticus, and head into the week with your head held high and your shoulders squared. You aren’t going down without a fight, don’t let yourself be defeated before you start.
3. “But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore, The Prisoner of Azkaban
The light switch is to your right. Next to all your friends and family who love and support you.
4. “You is good. You is kind. You is important” – The Help
You matter. Never forget that.
5. "Even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying. – Grey's Anatomy
Though the thought of failure is scary, it is better to have tried and failed than to have given up before you began.
6. “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” – Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
That’s right, no one is going to hold you down. You are your own person, and no one can ever take that from you.
7. “The way I see it, every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice-versa, the bad things don’t always spoil the good things and make them unimportant.” – The Doctor, Dr. Who
Sometimes you are going to have a bad day, and you know what? That’s okay. Just don’t let the bad days overwhelm all the beautiful positive things in your life. Though it is easy to let the negative overwhelm us, The Doctor is right- the good things will never be unimportant.
8. “There is no secret ingredient. It’s just you” – Po, Kung Fu Panda
You are enough.
9. “The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all” – Mulan
We must all face adversity in our lives, but this makes us who we are. When we come out on the other side, we are stronger, better, unique, beautiful people for all our struggles.
10. “Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
In life, and especially in college, you are always focused on the future. You are always thinking ahead - what homework is due tomorrow, what you need to study for your final in a month, what you are going to declare as your major at the end of the year, what jobs you are going to get next summer, what grad schools you are going to apply to when you graduate. Getting ahead is great, but don’t let yourself get caught up in the rush, and allow yourself a moment to just to admire the moment and live.
11. "You know that in nine hundred years of time and space and I've never met anybody who wasn't important before." – The Doctor, Dr. Who
It’s true, you are important. This comes from a trustworthy source. You can trust him- he’s a doctor.
12. “We’re all in this together” – High School Musical
What team? WILDCATS!!!!!!!!
