From binge reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” to navigating friendship dramas, the past four years have been a rollercoaster of emotions, friendships and phases. One thing that helped me get through it all was film. As a parting gift to the underclassmen of the LHS student body, here are a selection of films that not only defined, but also helped get me through these past four comically evil years.
Freshman year: confusing, awkward and unforgettable in the worst ways. The film I’d assign to this strange period of time would be “The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.”Based upon a book by the same name “The Perks Of Being A Wallflower” follows Charlie, an awkward and incredibly shy freshman as he figures out his connection to others and himself.
This film works very well with the uncertainty and newness that come with the growth and personal development of freshman year.
By sophomore year things are different. You are still trying to figure out your place, but you are starting to get the hang of things. I think that sophomore year is the most high school-like year of the four. You’re 15, maybe 16 and those are very definabley teenage ages. Two films that I feel like accurately fit into this period of time would be “The Dead Poets Society” and “Rushmore.” Both these films have very similar themes and settings — private school 16 year Old boys trying to find meaning in themselves and their lives. Both films, but especially “Rushmore,” reflect the confusion and developing persona of the average sophomore aged teenager.
What is for many the hardest and arguably worst year of high school, junior year is characterized by similar feelings of confusion and self discovery of years past, but they have morphed into something different. During this time you start to wonder what you want to do and more seriously who you want to be. At this point high school feels like it’s never going to end and you have fully become a part of the lull of your youth.
The film that accurately reflects this deeply strange monotonous period of high school life is “Igby Goes Down.” following titular character Igby, a rich 15-year-old boy disillusioned with his life.
Last but certainly not least is senior year. Finally everything is coming to an end, but not everything is necessarily sorted out. Emotions are conflicted, stress is high, and more than anything you need to find, or feel that you know, what your place in the world is and who you are.
Senior year can only be defined by one very special film, “Ladybird.” following high school senior Christine, or as she likes to be called, Ladybird, as she tries one last time to fit into high school life and figure out how she is going to be able to define life outside of it. The film is definitely a stereotypical pick for senior year because it is all about Ladybird’s senior year, but I have never seen a film that so accurately describes all the emotions I’m feeling right now as this one.
No matter where you are in your chapter of life called high school just know that nothing is temporary but everything will always matter. Thes movies helped me through my time here and I hope they do the same for you.