This week millions of students all over the world will be heading back to school. Most peoples’ experiences at university bear little resemblance to the Hollywood hijinks in films like Old School. But there are pearls of truth in plenty that’s popular these days. Here are three professional lessons from your favourite college films.
Stick to your plan
Rudy is the story of a small guy who dreams of playing for Notre Dame’s famous football team. He’s underestimated by just about everyone (his dad, his brothers, the random steelworkers at his dad’s mill, his (eventual) coach, follow student athletes), but he perseveres, surprising other more talented players with his moxy, hustle and extremely dedicated work ethic. Rudy’s overarching lesson is that while we can’t control our talent or aptitude for something, we can control our ethos, attitude and the way we live our lives. Whether it’s a club you are getting involved with, a relationship that you just started with a new guy or girl in residence or a brand new course that’s intimidating you, go in committed to working hard – harder than anyone else. No matter what obstacles come across your path or setbacks you face, this is a surefire way to maximize your chances of success.
Be yourself
In Old School three middle aged dudes who start a fraternity in order to build community (with college kids and Snoop Dogg). An important lesson from Old School revolves around the importance of being oneself (rather than a false construction forced on you by peers). This is a central tension throughout the film as Mitch (the story’s protagonist) seeks to “get his life together” while his friends attempt to transform him into the sun of their party solar system. At the end of the film, Mitch and Frank both find peace as they come to realize who they are and what makes them happy. Same goes for you in your college or life social situations. If you love Star Trek TNG, poetry or swing dancing, embrace it. Find the posse that’s into that and go 100 percent in. Avoid the temptation to try to remake yourself into something you’re not in an effort to make friends like you.
Don’t be a creep
There are plenty of lessons from Revenge of the Nerds, but the one we’ll focus on today is the film’s unintentional one of not being a creep. In the cult 1984 film, a group of “nerds” aka cultural outcasts and misfits fight back against the jocks, frat brothers and sorority sisters who make their life hell. They do so by staging a “panty raid” where they trespass, burgle and violate the privacy (including nude videotaping) of women in their rival sorority as well as, in one seriously concerning scene of sexual assault, in a fun house. It’s all kinds of creepy and, while in the 80s this might have been perceived as “good ol’ American fun”, today it really harkens to behavior that’s deeply troubling on college campuses and, clearly, always has been. The instructive lesson we can all take out of this is not to be creepy when interacting with anyone in your community. Be respectful of women (or men) and never do something that you think might make them feel uncomfortable. For a handy primer on how to interact with and/or ask a woman out without being a creep, check out this Jezebel article.
