Movies make us laugh, cry, scream, sit at the edge of our seats, but most importantly, movies make us think from time to time. As a child when I would watch a movie I wouldn't care about that thought or creativity that went into making the movie, or the direction the director was pushing the actors towards until the day I saw a movie that changed my life and made me want to pursue a career in film but we'll get to that in a few minutes.

For me, a good movie will make me think after the final credits roll, as a student studying film I wanted to share my top five movies that changed my life, made me think and made me want to pursue a career in film while also helping others through the movies I'll make.

1. "Remember The Titans"

"Remember The Titans" is a true story about an African American football coach who leads his newly integrated team to the state championship and the perfect season. This film was the first film I saw that made me want to work on movies for the rest of my life, the acting, the production, everything about this film made me interested in wanting to be on set and create a project like this based on a true story. The film taught me how important it is to work together to become something more, to achieve greatness in life, and reach a goal.

"Remember The Titans" taught a lesson that just because we are different skin colors that doesn't mean we have to hate each other, we don't have to be blood related to be family.

2. " The Green Mile"

"The Green Mile" was a film interpretation of the Stephen King Novel about a very gifted man that can perform miracles who is convicted and sentence to death for a crime he didn't do. When I first heard about this film I was under the impression that it was going to be a horror film because at the time the only other film interpretation of a Stephen King novel I had seen was "IT" and believe me when I say, that film scared the socks off my feet when my dad first showed it to me many years ago. So as I begin watching the film the reality sank in that this wasn't a horror film but something more, a very thought provoking film.

I took a lot away from this film but the main thing that truly spoke to me about the film was the context that laying your life down for your friends and for the greater good which sometimes may not be what we want or something we could even imagine happening but it was all for a purpose greater than anything we could plan for ourselves.

3. "Forrest Gump"

"Forrest Gump" is about a man with a low IQ who shares his story about life, where he's been, and where he is going. I first was shown this film by my dad who probably never thought that it would be one of my favorites at the time but little did he know that my life was changed when I saw this film for the first time. "Forrest Gump" taught me about how to not worry about the what ifs but focus on the moment and how to love life more, as well as looking forward to our journey more than our destination in life.

I learned so much just by Forrest sharing his story in the film, all the way from life to death. We all have a destiny and sometimes we love and lose but the memories we have will last for the rest of our lives.

4. " John Q"

"John Q" is a film about a loving father who takes a hospital emergency room hostage when he is denied a heart transplant after his son collapses during his little league game.

This was the second film I had ever seen of Denzel Washington and after "Remember The Titans" I had become such a huge fan of his, I just remember watching this film in theaters many years ago with my family and feeling the impact of the message that was presented through film that day. How far will a father go to protect his son?

5. "The Judge"

The Judge is about a lawyer who returns to his home town and estranged family after his mother dies and discovers that his father, the towns judge is suspected of murder.

The Judge was one of those films that no matter how many times I watch it, it only continues to get better and better. The film truly taught me how important family is and despite what has happened in the past, never let your past define your future and always remember to come back home.

Chase your dreams, you have them for a reason.