There are some movies you watch that change you forever. Maybe it’s the COM kid in me, but after some movies you can’t help but leave the theatre with a new perspective or gain of insight. For me, one movie that never fails is Little Miss Sunshine. As an upperclassman, it’s so interesting to look back on my freshman year and see how different my life was. You’re thrown into a completely new environment and sometimes it’s difficult to determine which path you should take. Here are some points of advice I wish I could tell my freshman year self, as described by Little Miss Sunshine.
If you haven’t seen this movie then stop whatever you’re doing and go see it right now! But also delay reading this post. Some of the quotes used might be spoilers!
A real loser is someone who’s so afraid of not winning he doesn’t even try.
College is hard. Between new romances, career paths and countless unforgettable experiences, it can get overwhelming. During freshman year you might think being “cool” is staying in your dorm drinking Natty lights or begging to get into some frat basement – it isn’t. I’m sure it seems like an incredible set-up for the three months you’ve been at school, but the routine will get old. The real loser isn’t the one staying in on Friday nights, but the ones with everlasting hangovers. It might seem scary now, but pursuing your interests and breaking the status quo will pay off indefinitely. Go to club meetings, venture off of your freshman floor and seek ways to get involved in areas you’re truly passionate about.
Have I mentioned that I am the preeminent Proust scholar in the US?
To refresh your memory, Frank Ginsberg is the protagonist’s Uncle in the story. He tries to commit suicide after his lover cheats on him with another one of his colleagues. Frank is the #1 Proust scholar and he loses the love of his life to the #2 Proust scholar. I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim high and be the best that you can, but at the end of the day what’s more important – a high title or a long line at your funeral? I’ll take the long line. Like I said before, college can be overwhelming, but you can’t forget to prioritize what’s important in life.
Anyway, he uh… he gets down to the end of his life, and he looks back and decides that all those years he suffered, Those were the best years of his life, ’cause they made him who he was. All those years he was happy? You know, total waste. Didn’t learn a thing. So, if you sleep until you’re 18… Ah, think of the suffering you’re gonna miss. I mean high school? High school-those are your prime suffering years. You don’t get better suffering than that.
A lot of professionals talk about “work-life balance” and how important that is when you have a career. I have a counter argument for them – work-life balance is mastered in college, if you do it right. It’s hard to balance a non-paid internship, full course load, part-time job, being the most popular girl in your freshman dorm and figuring out your major all at once. It’s a lot of work to balance everything and sometimes you might want to give up, move back home and eat Cheez-its while watching What Not to Wear. Keep going. Sleep over breaks. Take advantage of every resource available to you while you’re in school.
You know what? F*** beauty contests. Life is one f***ing beauty contest after another. School, then college, then work… F*** that. And f*** the Air Force Academy. If I want to fly, I’ll find a way to fly. You do what you love, and f*** the rest.
No explanation needed.