As the fall semester draws near, most of us are dreading the early mornings, homework and study sessions that are coming. Some can't wait to be reunited with their friends and get back on the grind. No matter what category you fall under, we're all counting down the days until classes start again. And what better way to get ourselves ready for another school year then by watching some amazing movies about that very thing we're going back to? Here are my top 10 picks on what to watch before you go back to school. Let these motivate you to keep studying and work hard to reach your goals.
1. "Dead Poets Society" (1989)
It's always a good idea to re-watch this classic. Robin Williams could not have had a more perfect role, giving us amazing advice on how to be better students and, ultimately, better people. Here's to Robin and to all of those teachers who have inspired us.
2. "Akeelah and the Bee" (2006)
Talk about inspiring teachers. This movie always takes me back to elementary school and losing in my grade's spelling bee because I got stuck on the word "tomato." To this day, I still cringe every time I think of myself on that stage. Akeelah can teach us all something about bravery.
3. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001)
Without needing another excuse to watch it, here's one more. It brings you right back to being a kid and falling in love with all the magic and wonder of childhood. J. K. Rowling makes everyone wish we would stop being boring muggles and get that acceptance letter with Harry. Who wouldn't wish they were actually returning to Hogwarts in September?
4. "High School Musical" (2006)
Now, I know what you're thinking, but it was our generation's "Grease." And it has a much better message. Instead of teaching people to fit in like Sandy does at the end of "Grease," HSM says, "No, no no!" Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) rise above the pressures of fitting in at school, juggling extracurriculars, doing something only because your parents want you to do it, and so much more... all while dancing and singing. And if all of this doesn't sell you on HSM, then watch it for the three minutes of Zac Efron doing a choreographed dance with basketballs.
5. "Clueless" (1995)
Cher (Alicia Silverstone) gave me lots of false hopes for the high school years-- most notably, being able to look that gorgeous even while falling off a bed. Regardless, it has everything you would want in a high school comedy: romance, friendship, living rich and lavish, immigration explained in under a minute... you know, the usual. To top it off, it's actually said to be an adaptation of Jane Austen's novel "Emma." Funny and smart.
6. "The Breakfast Club" (1985)
Keeping it in the high school days, we can't miss this '80s classic by John Hughes. If you haven't seen it already, you may think it's overrated because of the amount of people who claim this to be their favorite movie. But I think its continued fame speaks to its power to talk about the teenage experience. Each of the students comes in to detention that day thinking they have it all figured out -- and each other figured out -- and they leave with their world views turned upside down. It's what college tries to do in four years, only mushed together into one day with these five. And you know what's more impressive than that? Finding out just how much of this movie was improvised by the actors.
7. "Remember the Titans" (2000)
A team brought together across racial divides by one man. How much more inspiring can you get? By the end of the movie, you'll want Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) to guide you through everything in life. Tissues strongly recommended.
8. "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004)
Seemingly not as heroic as Coach Boone, Napoleon is still a hero in his own right. Despite being bullied by his schoolmates and ridiculed by his brother and uncle, he simply does not care. He shows up to prom in a thrifted brown suit. He rides the bus to school and asks his brother to bring him his chapstick. He gets up on stage to support his friend in dance, and doesn't care what the jocks think. For all these reasons and more, Napoleon holds a special place in my heart. Also, there's a llama named Tina.
9. "Sky High" (2005)
If you're in need of a feel-good, high school movie, look no further. In this underrated Disney movie, the sidekicks really do win. It's up to those whose powers aren't considered as awesome as the heroes to save the day. And who doesn't love it when the underdog wins? It turns out you can't count on the "nice guys," but you can totally count on the badass introverted girl with plant powers.10. "Walkout" (2006)
Even when you felt like you hated school, these students definitely had it much worse. And yet they weren't afraid to step up and fight against the injustices they received from the department of education because they were minorities. Movies like this keep us in check.
We are all lucky to be able to not only go to school but to return there every year when so many are denied or simply do not have the access to an education, for whatever reason. So, let these movies' stories and characters motivate you, inspire you, and make you feel good.
And then get back to work.
