Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is by far my favorite movie. It is the 1986 American teen comedy film directed by John Hughes. The film stars Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller), Mia Sara (Sloane Peterson), and Alan Ruck (Cameron Frye). In a Chicago suburb two months before graduation, high school senior Ferris Bueller fakes an illness to stay home from school. With his best friend, Cameron, and his girlfriend, Sloane, Ferris attempts to make the most out of this day all while avoiding getting caught by Dean of Students Ed Rooney, who learns that Ferris has been absent from school for the ninth time this semester. Throughout the film, the trio visits the Art Institute of Chicago, uses deception to dine at an upscale restaurant, goes to a Chicago Cubs baseball game, and attends the Von Steuben Day parade, with Ferris jumping on the float and lip-syncing to “Twist and Shout” by the Beatles.
He sees each moment as a chance for fun and excitement and encourages his friends to do the same. Ferris brings the audience along by sharing his inner thoughts directly with the audience and ultimately, leaves them with an important lesson at the end of the film: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
I first watched this film when I was twelve years old. At that time, it was entertaining and it definitely still is, but I didn’t get the message until a few years later. I remember watching the film and being amused by how Ferris could accomplish so much by just skipping one day of school—this was something I would never do. But as I grew older, his final lesson began to stick. In fact, it was my senior quote for my high school yearbook. 2021 approached and I was a graduating senior about to embark on a new journey at UC Davis. In the blink of an eye, I became an adult. During my time as an undergrad, I’ve had to figure out my major, internships, and career for post-graduation. With all of this, taking a break and having fun was easy to forget.
Luckily, every once in a while when I rewatch this movie, I am reminded to live in the moment and make the most of the present. It is okay to occasionally break free from the routine of daily life; it can be refreshing and invigorating to enjoy some leisure time. Most importantly, don’t let opportunities pass you by. A well-balanced life means having both work and fun.
Although the movie world and the real world are not at all the same, everyone should still aim to seize the day and live life to the fullest. There are always unexpected obstacles but Ferris was right. Life does move pretty fast and it is full of opportunities for fun and adventure if we are open to them. So take that break, watch a show, get dinner with your friends, and go explore that city because you don’t want to miss what is right in front of you.