What College Skills Can You Learn From Hollywood?

You don’t have to be a resident of California for Hollywood to have an impact on your life. But for those of us who call CA home, we have to face the fact that for many people around the world, our home state will always be synonymous with the movies!

So we wondered what nuggets of wisdom could our students learn from a few favorite movies? Whether you’re studying Criminal Justice or Veterinary Technology, these classic movies can offer advice to help you succeed.

10 Things I Hate About You

While you certainly shouldn’t waste your college years convincing your sister to date a tough guy so you can date the big man on campus, you should emulate the characters in this movie in one important way – get a tutor. The lesson is that if you are having a hard time in any of your classes, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The Lord of the Rings

Whether you love or hate this trilogy, you have to admit they are long movies. It takes forever for Frodo and his gang to walk to Mount Doom. So whether you are trying to dispose of a powerful ring or working toward your Medical Assisting qualification, the point is the journey can be long and full of obstacles. The important thing is to keep your ultimate goal in mind and take it one step at a time, no matter what life throws your way.

Forrest Gump

This movie’s most famous message is that life is like a box of chocolates. Well, your path toward a college degree is also like a box of chocolates. While you should have a solid idea of what you want to do and where you want your degree to take you when you enroll at college, don’t be afraid to just let life happen. Maybe you’ll meet friends who open your eyes to new passions, or you’ll take a class that makes you want to switch careers? Ultimately, you simply never know where your education will lead you.

What About Bob?

In this 1991 comedy, a successful psychiatrist loses his mind after one of his most dependent patients tracks him down during his family vacation. The thing to learn from this movie is how to master the art of breaking large projects into small, manageable tasks by using “Baby Steps”. A key to completing big overwhelming projects is to break them down into many small manageable steps.

The Empire Strikes Back

We had to get some Star Wars in here right? When Luke Skywalker is training with Jedi Master Yoda, Yoda tells Luke he must feel ‘the Force’. Yoda encourages Luke to lift a plane out of the swamp. When Luke replies “I’ll try”, Yoda responds “No. Do. Or do not. There is no try.” After declaring the task impossible, Luke watches amazed as Yoda levitates the ship. Luke says “I don’t believe it” and Yoda replies “That is why you fail.” The lesson here is what you believe will have an impact on the choices you make. The power of positive thought can influence your choices and accomplishments. May the force be with you.

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