The movie "Accepted" is one of my favorite movies that depicts college life, but not for the reasons most people would think. "Accepted" tells the tale of Bartleby Gaines, a high school student who does not get accepted to any colleges. In an attempt to avoid embarrassment, Bartleby creates a fictitious University, South Harmon Institute of Technology. As Bartleby and his friends construct the fake college, word spreads about the new institution. Hundreds of rejected students flock to South Harmon to get the college education they had been looking for. Feeling sympathetic for the other rejected students, Bartleby founds the University under false pretenses. Along the way Bartleby and the other students learn about themselves as individuals and begin to pursue their passions. After watching this film, most would say they enjoyed it simply because it was fairly humorous. These people missed what "Accepted" is all about, discovering and becoming comfortable with ourselves.
Knowing Who You Are
"Accepted" unveils a theme that we can all relate to, knowing yourself. In the movie there are a number of people who try to reinvent themselves to fit in with a new crowd. This idea can be seen through Sherman Schrader, one of Bartleby's best friends. When Sherman arrives at the prestigious Harmon College, he pledges a fraternity because he wants to be known as a campus legend. The problem is the fraternity attempts to shape Sherman into someone that he is not. The fraternity brothers publicly humiliate him and make him take part in malicious acts. In the end Sherman realizes that the fraternity is not for him, and he leaves. Sherman attempted to be someone he was not because he wanted to fit in with the "cool" crowd. This is something that all of us can relate to as human beings. At one point or another, we have all felt lost or excluded. As new students, do not feel like you need to be someone you are not, to fit in. The most important words of advice I can give you are to be yourself and be proud of the person you are. Every new student worries that they will make no friends and be alone. Everyone is different in their own way and no one should change who they are to fit in with a group. The key is to be yourself and you will have no problem making life-long friendships. People respect others who are self-confident and hold strong values. If you are confident in yourself, you will find your niche, whatever that maybe. Do not be someone else, be you!
Finding Your Niche
The second major theme in "Accepted" is finding out what you are passionate about. As the movie begins to progress, the seemingly lost students all seem to find a subject matter that they are passionate about. One of Bartleby's friends, "Hands", has a major epiphany while attending the University. "Hands" was a high school football star, but injuries prevented him from playing ball in college. During his time at South Harmon Institute of Technology he discovers that he loves the wood-working field. At the end of the movie he even begins to teach other students about his wood-working projects. Many incoming students still have no idea what they want to do later in life, which is totally normal. Even some people who think they know what they want to do, end up changing their minds. My biggest words of advice would be to take your time and trust your gut. As a new student take a wide range of courses that cover different subject matters. A class that originally seems pointless could end up sparking your interest in a certain field. Be patient because the worst thing you can do is enter a field just for the sake of getting a job. Find something that you enjoy and makes you happy. Secondly trust your gut. When you feel as though you have found your passion, go with your gut feeling. If it feels right, then it most like is right, so do not second guess yourself. Take your time and trust your instincts, and you will discover what you are passionate about in no time.
Accept Yourself
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