Lara Reyes-Terry, Week 1: How Dead Poets Society Changed Me
I used to despise English. Growing up, I thought it was a boring subject that existed only to make me rip my hair out. My old teachers taught it with even less gusto than Gemini. It should be no surprise that I was also one of the many students that turned the other way when poetry entered the conversation.
My opinion budged in middle school. Though my 8th grade English teacher and I did not get along, my history teacher was the very first to ever praise my writing. He wrote, “Lara, this is an exceptional paper.” The writing was okay--but that was all I needed. Maybe I can write. He inspired me to take English 9 honors despite having warnings flung at me from all directions.
The jump from the honors class at Thornton to American was dizzying. The first semester was a cycle of sifting through work and then panicking. It was when we watched Dead Poets Society that my outlook changed.
I went in with no expectations and I ended up crying. Following the viewing, I thanked my teacher for showing us the movie and then bought it myself.
It is hard to explain why I adore this movie so much. I believe it captures the existential fear that we, as teens, face really well. But it also captures the joy in youth that, at the time, I had forgotten. The story hit close to home. The familial pressures, the untouchable teachers, the work they gave without care, it was a lot. When it feels like nothing in life is in control, what is more validating than being told you can still make your life extraordinary? I took to heart what the movie repeated: Carpe Diem. Seize the day.
A friend of mine had been going to a poetry society here on campus, inspired and named after the movie. I joined Freshman year and got pulled into poetry, like Todd in the movie. The opportunity to become an organizer came in Sophomore year. I thought of Neil and how despite his father, he pursued what he wanted to do: acting. I applied and now I am a co-organizer. That same year, I struggled the most I had ever struggled with English, but I enjoyed the unique things we were taught. I thought of Mr. Keating and the engaging classes he held. I brought the best version of myself I could, wanting to show that my teacher’s efforts were appreciated.
Now, I am not as ashamed of my writing. Though my self-confidence has increased, it is still a work in progress. But Dead Poets Society has changed me. It gave me an answer to icebreakers about my favorite movie, a deeper appreciation of my teachers, and a love for English. I accept that I will struggle with this subject, but I will allow passion to push me forward.
Hi Lara, I enjoyed reading your blog, and actually found it extremely relatable in the sense that a movie shaped your perspective. In recent times, I watched Will Smith's The Pursuit of Happiness, which has really stuck with me and not to be cliche, but has changed my perspective on life. I highly recommend it. Additionally, I think it is super awesome and inspiring that you pursued your passion for poetry, and now you co-organize meetings. I also wanted to share that Dead Poets Society has been on my watch list for almost a year now, and I am yet to watch it, but this inspired me to move it up and get it checked off.
ReplyDeleteHi Lara, I finally saw Dead Poets Society for the first time last year and I can totally see what you mean when you say it captures the fear that teens face. I love how it shifted your perspective on English, specifically poetry. I hope you are able to continue to pursue writing well after High School and I would love to see one of your poems sometime!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the photo you chose to include in this blog post, I honestly thought you'd only be talking about our Dead Poets Society on campus, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear your perspective on the movie itself. I was introduced on campus to poetry through the Modern Poetry class rather than DPS, but now that I've gone to a few meetings, I can't help but wish I started engaging with it sooner. I can't wait to see how the society (not club!!!) progresses this year!
ReplyDeleteLara, I always thought you were one of those English nerds!! I vaguely remember you as my classmate in some science classes back in middle school, though my memory isn’t great to begin with. All along, I always had a sense of you being a proficient writer—thought you just carried that air about you. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that wasn’t at all the case! I find your adoration of this great movie very admirable, especially the part about this film impacting you and touching upon your daily struggles while uplifting you in such an inspiring way. Being a club executive myself, I recognize the passion it takes to become an important part of a club. Your path to become a co-organizer is just so neat, the way it parallels events in this beloved movie of yours. I love the growth you’ve expressed here and I hope you keep kindling this appreciation of the subject!
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