Being a college student is difficult. I know, that seems like a broad understatement, right? Especially now, with mid-term papers, exams, and projects due left and right, and finals right around the corner, it’s hard to keep the end in sight and make sure you’re in control of everything. I know I’ve felt particularly stressed lately, and when I’m stressed out (and finished with all the work I need to do that night), I love to watch animated Disney movies (Yes, I am 20 years old, yes, I love [read: am obsessed with] Disney, and no, I don’t see anything weird about it.)
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Believe it or not, these movies can bring a breath of fresh air and relief to a stressed-out college student, not only with the ridiculous jokes and silly humor, but with the simple life lessons that are taught within each one. It just so happens that my favorite Disney films, “Meet the Robinsons,” has one of those great life lessons, so I figured I’d share it with you, because maybe you’re stressed and are sort of like Carl when he first meets Lewis, or Dr. Krunklehorn on the caffeine patch:
If you ask any of my friends, “Meet the Robinsons,” is hands-down one of my all-time favorite movies. I know it didn’t get a ton of great reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but I think it’s great. The music, the humor, the characters, and of course, the lesson learned in the end all make the movie worth watching (If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend that you download Popcorn Time and watch it.)
Anyway, the main moral of the story and a line that becomes the protagonist’s motto is, “Keep moving forward.” Not only is this a focal point of the film, but it is also a quote that is derived from Walt Disney himself:
Sometimes, when life becomes challenging, we become focused on that one thing until it goes away or until it isn’t relevant to us anymore. A bad grade on an exam can leave us upset and frustrated about not only the course itself, but at ourselves for not doing better, or for not studying more if we could have. We become concerned about how it will affect our GPA and future careers. A bad solo performance during a student recital can cause you to beat yourself up about not practicing enough or not warming up the proper amount. Whatever the scenario, there are a multitude of thoughts that go through your head, usually not positive, when you don’t do something well, or something goes awry that you weren’t expecting.
Failure is an inevitable part of life. It’s OK, you can learn from it.
The important thing is that you don’t let these things bother you, or if you do, don't let them bother you for long. Take Lewis’ advice: all you have to do is “let go of the past and keep moving forward.” I know it seems easier said than done, but when I’m overloaded with stress, schoolwork, and life, I take a breath and remember this line. The future is always ahead of you. No one is perfect, and each person is unique -- in personality, in learning types, and in situation. If you keep thinking about what happened in the past and going through what went wrong, you’re never going to be able to move forward to new things that could potentially change your future.
So the next time you’re blue about life, or stressed out in any capacity, just remember that that feeling is temporary -- the future is bright. And just as my buddy Lewis said once, and will say many more times when I revisit my favorite movie, “Keep moving forward.”
Fun fact: This week is the nine-year anniversary of "Meet the Robinsons." I did not realize this until I wrote this article, so this fact is completely coincidental!
