It's here, the most wonderful time of the year; College move in days. So, of course, by most wonderful it is also most tearful, most dreadful, and most full of excited confusion, especially for our freshman. As opposed to just giving lists of advice, I am going to give lists of advice as brought about by some of your favorite childhood movies. Specifically those brought from the animation dominatrix Pixar. People say animation is just 'kids stuff' which is so far from the truth for many reasons. That list is for another time, but one of those things is most definitely that they teach lessons applicable to all people. So, here we go;
Toy Story - Roommates
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A Bug's Life - Bee Yourself (Pun Intended)
Get CREATIVE. College is your time to experiment, find different ways to study, do projects, have fun, etc. Find who you are, don't cram yourself in a mold. Also, don't lie?? Like, I know it sounds elementary, but be yourself. If you're a circus big, be a circus bug. If you have weird crazy ideas that might not work, embrace it. Love it. There can be a lot of pressure in the beginning to make friends, so you'll want to pretend you like that one thing or have been to that one place to impress people, but then you have to ask yourself; is that really worth it?
Toy Story 2 - Friendships
It's good to know where you came from, but just as important to look where you're going. Friends, like all of Woody's, are treasures that help make life a bit easier, albeit also a bit harder at times too. But there's a reason Woody went back to them. However, it's just as important to be like Jessie, and accept that some relationships can not last. But as old friends must leave, new ones come in, and there are others that will be by your side forever.
Monsters Inc. - Newness
Things are not as scary as they seem. Especially for freshman, college can be extremely overwhelming. New faces, new places, new routine, it's a lot to take in. In this film, the world is run by scaring the thing monsters are themselves scared of, children ( or at least their touch). However, in the end they learn that they have more similarities than differences and find anew, even better way, to work off of one another. This is especially relevant when crossing paths with other majors. See what can be learned from them as opposed to fighting about who's major is 'harder' or making a rash judgment based on this one fact.
Finding Nemo - Growth and Motivation
This movie holds many valuable life lessons. One could very easily be for the parents of college students. They can not be sheltered forever or else they will not grow, much like Marlin had to learn with little Nemo.
This movie also shows us what leaps and bounds one can accomplish if they are driven enough. As we see in Marlin's journey, or in Nemo's growth with the tank fish. The challenges you face will genuinely be all the things you would never expect to be a struggle in your life, but do not let the world tell you that you can not or that your goals are not worth it.
The Incredibles - Family
Again don't lie??? But really, it's family. Not everyone has the best home life, so maybe it isn't by blood, but whoever your 'family' is will be of an amazing support system, no matter how many arguments or challenges you may face. Many of us fear being jobless, homeless, and just less of things, but this is where that family comes in handy, because they will not let that happen one way or another. This movie also shows us that maintaining a family, a marriage, children, it's all hard. So, there's no rush, no hurry, no need to 'ring by spring it'.
Cars - Education
This movie applies to college phenomenally, in a more unexpected way. We live in a world obsessed with achievement. A drive ( no pun intended?) to succeed is not a bad thing, but sometimes we get so caught up in 'making the grade' in college we forget the true beauty of everything around us. Lightening starts cocky, thinking he's the best of his kind, and the only thing he wants to do is be the first rookie to win the piston cup. He thinks he knows it all already but soon learns he has much to gain. college is about LEARNING not winning. More than that, college is beyond academia, some of the major beautiful moments of life happen in these four years. Life moves even faster than Lightening and if you don't stop to look around, you might miss it.. Wait, wrong movie.
Ratatouille - Truthfulness
Pixar films have a trend of the 'you can do anything if you set your mind to it' message. What's great about this movie in particular, is that it goes beyond that and shows repercussions. Specifically when Linguini reveals the truth they don't all immediately accept Remy. They feel betrayed and in disbelief and all walk out. All of them. Only Collete finds it in herself to forgive him. All this to say, what's that? Oh yeah,don't lie?????? Pixar has made it pretty clear people don't like that.. Genuinely though you're going to fail and hit bumps. You won't always get perfect grades, you and your friends won't always get along, despite how many times I've said it you will lie ( even if for what seems to be the greater good), and if you are a human you will hurt people. Despite this, never give up. Have the forgiveness of Collette, the drives and dreams of Remy, and the simplicity of Linguini.
Side note: This movie is incredibly underrated. Have a movie night with your new friends and watch it. Appreciate it.
Wall-E - Be Open to New Ideas
They say curiosity killed the cat, but for this robot it literally saved the world. Don't get set in one mind set of how the world works, be open to discovery and maybe you'll find something as life changing as that plant. Plus, Wall-E has a heart of gold with no actual heart. So, those of us with actual circulatory system should be able to love as much as he does. Also, never be afraid to play showtunes to set a mood.
Up - Love, What it REALLY is
*Cue tears*
Okay so, we all know what happens at the BEGINNING of this movie. It's heartbreaking and sends Carl into total seclusion from other people. I could talk about the devastating things in life and loss, but this movie teaches more than just that. Carl went on his journey to fulfill Ellie's dream by going on the adventure she always wanted, but by the end of he movie discovers what gave her life purpose was not the places she went, but her relationship with him. It was the love they shared that made life great, and he then is moved to show love and kindness to Russel, who's parents are negligent. It's love in its purest form, and love is what moves us forward and makes life worth living. I haven't said college once in this but... it is just an important message.
Toy Story 3 - The Inevitable Growing Up
*Cue more tears*
No movie can apply more. Not only must we learn to move on, as Toy Story 2 taught us, but we also have to grow up. Friend and professional groups will shift dramatically through your college career, your closest friends from freshman year could get married your senior year and not only are you not a bridesmaid, you're not even invited. Despite this, it does not diminish the importance they played in your life.More than just friendships, we all have habits, activities and dependencies we have to remove from our lives at some point (animated movies not being one of them), that's what growing up is. However, letting go of childhood doesn't mean letting go of child like wonderment. Cherish your past, but do not cling to it.
Brave - Agree to Disagree
You may think the lesson here will be to pursue the career you want and not what your parents/peers/society tells you to do. That is a good guess and also the truth, but I think what is to be learned is, pardon my French, but be who you are but don't be rude about it. I've talked a lot about embracing and finding yourself, which is good, but people, even and most definitely your family, may not approve of what you want to do. Don't let this wreck relationships, but rather make an effort to try an understand each other. It could open up their eyes, but could also do the same to yours. We are all still learning how life works, so try and figure out peacefully.. and not by accidentally transforming people into viscous beasts. Oh but also, yes, screw gender roles.
Cars 2 - Explore (Yourself)
Has anybody seen this movie besides me? Did anyone LIKE this movie besides me? It's no masterpiece but it definitely makes a nice underdog story of the quirky side character, who no one believes in, being the one to save the day. And then all their friends appreciate them in a new light, they find their family, and then they can stamp their mark and continue to just keep swimming Wait.. Which movie are we talking about again?
Basically, we all have individual talents. Studying abroad can also reveal a lot of these to us, so take advantage of that while you can,
Monsters University - College is Not for Everyone
It's literally about college. Except that the message is more for those who decide not to go through all of college. It's not for everyone, and that is okay. It's not required to be successful. Spoiler alert, the first movie literally displays the successes of Mike and Sully even after SPOILER ALERT they have to leave MU at the end of the movie. It also says a lot for choosing your majors. It can be hard when you want to do something with all of your might ( in this case Mike and scaring) and just not fit the bill. That doesn't mean quit. It means find ways that you, with your unique talents and abilities, can fit within the field. There are always more ways than it seems.
Inside Out - You Can and WILL Cry
I will reference this movie until the end of my times. I have continuously been writing blog posts and raving to everyone about how important this movie is. It's not the perfect movie but it has a lesson I wish I had sooner. Life will suck. In this instance, college will REALLY suck. Weather it's an overload of classes, a fight with friends, a broken heart, feeling left out, doing things you regret, they will happen. However college is also filled with some of the brightest moments of your life, brought about solely because of your sadness. You will find friends that love you, accomplish major feats, and through all the stress discover your truest passions. What does this have to do with Inside Out? Everything. Because this teaches us you can be sad, it's alright to cry, and you're not wrong for missing easier times in your life. It's GOOD to feel sadness, sometimes. Many people believe they to be happy 24/7, otherwise they guilty. That is not the case.
Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory - You Are Capable
I put these movies together because they each have similar themes (plus, with Finding Dory still in theaters, I know less people have seen it). The world will look down on you for x,y, and z because we're all hooked on the illusive idea of perfection, and how to be as such. More often than not, we also look down on ourselves, feeling incapable. These movies teach us that there's more than one way to be a person... Or fish, or dinosaur. So, just because you're little, or easily lost, impulsive, an over thinker, or anything that might not 'fit the mold' that's just who you are, and who you are is beautiful. And who you are IS capable. College is a big mess of people from different places, and there is no reason to try to be someone else that is already there. People may give you weird looks for your choice in major, preferred study method, or even the fact that you like the cafeteria food. Don't let those looks make you fear being you.
Sure this did not touch on things like time management, or getting sleep, or how doing things like walking will help your mental health, but now it does because of this sentence. Regardless, these movies have the timelessness to teach lessons that can be used in all walks of life for generations. They are messages to pay attention to and often glossed over by incoming students consumed with the best way to style their dorm room.
Cheers, and happy school year.
