10 Things We Learned From "Dead Poets Society"

NEWS UPDATE: colleges across the country are making watching"Dead Poets Society" a requirement to graduate.

OK, so not really. I lied. BUT, they totally should. If you have yet to see this inspiring, amazing, movie, GO NETFLIX NOW. Do not read this post without experiencing the joy that is Dead Poets Society. Seriously. Come back when you've been taught the ways of the world with John Keating (aka Robin Williams), and then we can recap together.

It's my dream to one day have students who call me this.
Not kidding. True shit. This movie is amazing.

1.  Mentors are important.

John Keating shows us the value of having a mentor throughout the whole movie as he encourages his class to follow their dreams, find their voices, and become more appreciative of the world around them. I think every young writer should have their own John Keating (I have mine---her name is Rebecca Wee). It reminds us that there's a whole world out there we know nothing about, but also that there are people out there interested in your success. You're not alone.

2. Community is just as important.

Part of the magic of this movie is that you get to watch the characters develop as individuals within their community. Friends who care about the same things you care about are precious, rare, and glorious. (Which isn't to say that caring about different things is bad. Friends with diverse interests are just as important.) Every writer needs to feel that they belong to something bigger than themselves, and a community can help with that. Plus, having someone to bitch with about writer's block? Priceless.

Raise your hand if you want to start a Dead Poets Society.
No, seriously. Symbolically raise your hand and GET PUMPED.

3. What you think matters.

Really. Even though it's easier to fit into society by going with the flow, expressing what you think is extremely important. Have the courage to form opinions about everything and anything. When you know what you think, everything else will fall into place. And if you're not sure what you think, write until you figure it out. Don't take everything at face value---if you're a writer, people are interested in what you have to say, not what everyone else says.

4. Find your voice; find yourself.

Don't be afraid to be yourself. Yes, you've heard it a thousand times---but think about the times that really meant something and stuck with you. Do you even have any? Because I didn't until I watched this movie. Is that lame? Yes. Do I care? NO. This is the first movie I ever saw that made being a writer seem important, interesting, and worthwhile. As silly as it may sound, the fictionalized John Keating was the first person I believed when he rolled out the whole "Don't be afraid not to fit in, to be yourself, to find your voice" cliche. And that's worth something.

HIS NAME IS NUWANDA, DAMNIT.
Forever and ever.

5. Branch out and embrace the entirety of language.

Don't be content with ordinary words. Don't settle for the easiest way to say things---some things deserve to be expressed in the right words. Oftentimes, the right words and the easy words are not the same thing---and therein lies the importance of good writing. Via the expert advice of John Keating, and a few additional ideas, here are some ways to avoid using the word "very":

6. Poets are just as important as anyone else in society. 

You know what's annoying? Feeling like you have to constantly apologize to yourself and others for your passions and your dreams. If I had a nickel for every time someone made fun of me for being an English and Creative Writing double major---well, I'd probably have more money than I'll make from my career path. Yes, I just made a joke about being poor. Why is that OK? Because I'm not in it for the money. When I declared my majors, I accepted that I was choosing to pursue something I believed in versus something I would make lots of money doing. And you know what, it's so totally bonkers that our society has shifted so much as to believe what I was doing was stupid. It's NEVER stupid to choose a career you're passionate about. Stop taking shit about being a poet. It's OK to joke, because humor makes the reality of not fitting into the values the rest of the world has easy (because it really is hard), but stand up for your future: you are important, poet. You inspire and make this world one worth living in.

7. CARPE that goddamn DIEM, people.

For the love of god and John Keating, don't wait another second to seize the day! Make your life extraordinary----no one else will do it for you, so stop waiting around for the perfect moment and make the life you want to live a reality. Have courage and know that you will fail. Extraordinary people did not become extraordinary overnight. We are defined as much by our successes as by our ability to overcome failures.

8. Perspective matters---don't be afraid to change yours.

It is amazing to me how much my poetry has changed throughout my life. So much of it has to do with dramatic perspective shifts as I grow up, move away, move back, and generally experience the intense and complicated range of emotions this life has to offer. Sometimes the only way to grow as a writer is to change the way you view the world, and that is a power you will always have. A great strength of being a writer is the ability to see things from many different perspectives. The more you can develop that strength, the more your writing will grow.

At this point in the movie, I'm standing on my bed and holding back tears.
NO, MR. KEATING, NEVER LEAVE.

9. Show up for the muse and she'll show up for you.

Mr. Keating likes to do awesome things like read Shakespeare in funny voices, tell his students to stand on desks, and encourage them to escape to caves in the middle of the night to read poetry. Sometimes he assigned poetry writing assignments. Todd Anderson, one of the main characters, rides the writing struggle bus for basically the whole movie. He shows up for the muse, but gives up after 10 minutes every time. Now, she's a sassy lady and that shit doesn't fly for her, so poetry is a no go for Todd. Plus, he's terrified of public speaking. Cue Mr. Keating forcing Todd to show up for the Muse---and lo and behold, she shows up in a major way:

What I'm saying here is this: open yourself up to the potential of writing something you might feel weird about. Not only that, establish a writing practice where you regularly do so. The muse won't leave you hanging if you're open, accepting, and ready to roll.

10. Words and ideas can change the world. 

This phrase has stuck with me ever since I watched this movie way back when. We are writers, and we can change the world. It has been done in the past and it will continue to be done as long as humans are around. When you give a voice to an issue everyone ignores, you are subtly changing the current of thought. It's not surprising that writers are the "unacknowledged legislators of this world", as Shelley says---literature is supposed to be a reflection of society (both the one we live in and the one we fear or want to live in). Even though change can be slow and painful, it happens. What you are doing may mean everything. Keep doing what you're doing, writers. It's working.

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm feeling very inspired. Also, I'm off to watch Dead Poets Society. (I'm not just saying that---DVD is IN the player.) You should probably do the same if you haven't seen it in awhile---it might surprise you.

No, Mr. Keating---thank YOU.
You da real MVP.

*Note: all of these movie stills, quotes, GIFs, and artwork were found on tumblr, unless the watermark on the photo suggests otherwise. A lot of these can be located on WeHeartIt.com, too, according to the tumblr sources.