College: Today, Yesterday, and 85 Years Ago

FEATURING:

Buster Keaton in

'COLLEGE'

Okay, a little bit dated, I know. 85 years to be exact. But don't for a second think that just because the actors in this film are as old as your great-grandparents, the core college experience today is much different than the one portrayed in 1927. On the contrary, I found this film to be predicated on the exact same core experiences and lessons that have transcended generations to become the foundation of modern college life. But how can a black and white silent film possibly still be relevant to college today? I pondered that exact question myself before diving in.

"College," starring Buster Keaton, tells a very familiar story. A young man, fresh out of high school, determined to change himself and his future, decides to take on the challenges of college life and explore unfamiliar territory. This young man, Ronald, is incredibly smart and knows exactly what he wants to become- an athlete. Only then will he be able to impress Mary, the girl he loves. Unfortunately for Ronald, he was the most clumsy, awkward, and naive person to graduate from his school. Nevertheless, he sets off to college with a strong heart and the will to make his dreams come true, no matter what.

From the moment Ronald made it to Clayton College, I began to see some similarities between the college experience circa 1927 and today. Since his mother can't afford to send him to school herself, Ronald gets a job at an ice cream shop on campus. His clumsiness makes the job a nightmare for both he and the costumers. When Mary enters the shop one day, Ronald is so ashamed of being seen working there that he ends up hiding from her and ultimately getting fired for it. 

Lesson 1: We all have to sometimes do jobs in college that are not naturally easy to us, or that make us look uncool. Regardless, you should never be ashamed to do what you have to do to get where you're trying to go.

Ronald's first foray into sports comes at baseball tryouts. Unfortunately, he had never played baseball before in his life, and before he knew it he was trying to play third base with catcher's pads on. As great a failure as his baseball tryout would become, Ronald never let apprehension prevent him from going to that tryout and giving it his best. Sometimes learning on the fly, while often tough and embarrassing, is the best way to truly understand what you're doing and where you are going.

Lesson 2: You have to take risks and put yourself out there in order to grow as a person and get the things you want in college and in life.

Self motivation and confidence in college is essential. You have to believe you can do something when no one else will. Ronald is picked on by the jocks relentlessly during his college stint, but he never gives in to them. Ronald believes he can become an athlete, even after failing at baseball. What follows is a long sequence where he literally fails at every single track and field event. Nevertheless, Ronald doesn't give up hope. College has always been about making your own future, and growing as a person. Personal growth can't be taught though, it's something you have to garner through your own experiences. 

Lesson 3: Every college has people who will doubt you or even stand in your way. Nobody ever got anywhere by giving in to these people and throwing in the towel. 

Hater, circa 1927

At this point in the film, Ronald faces an issue that many students, past and present, have struggled with in college: balancing academics and social goals. Ronald gets so wrapped up in his quest to become an athlete that he neglects his school work. The best student in high school finds that he is now barely passing his classes. True, there is a lot more to college than just an education. Social milestones are just as important to your growth as a person as anything else. That said, finding that balance between having success both in and out of the classroom is imperative to a successful college experience and it always has been.

Lesson 4: Find that healthy balance between time spent pursuing social goals and academic goals.

Ronald's academic struggles result in a trip to the Dean's office, where he and the Dean find that they have similar life experiences. This new relationship leads to the Dean pulling strings so that Ronald can become the new coxswain  of the college crew team.

Lesson 5: Be honest and open with faculty and seek out the help of advisers. Their experience and knowledge could help you when you've run out of plans or options on your own.

As coxswain of the crew team, Ronald's clumsiness yet again overtakes him when he accidentally breaks the rudder off of the boat. Using his quick wits, he straps the rudder to his back and uses his butt to steer the boat to victory.

Lesson 6: College requires you to think outside the box when things go wrong. This challenge is essential to producing well-rounded and creative graduates to lead the next generation.

So there you have it. College 85 years ago had many of the same struggles and learning moments that we face there today. But there was one more point to this movie that I want to touch on.

The college experience should be about building on your strengths rather than obsessing over your weaknesses and trying to force yourself to change into something you are not. In the end, Ronald gets the girl not because he becomes a great athlete, but because his natural love for her and passion are strengthened in the process. Inspired, he rushes to Mary's aid when her boyfriend locks her into her dorm room against her will- hurdling bushes, leaping over fences, and ultimately winning a short scuffle. Ronald's determination and inner strength lead him in the moment of truth, allowing him to amazingly overcome his natural lack of athletic talent.

As orientation leaders, we must do our best to nudge our students in the right direction, so that they can eventually understand these lessons for themselves. While the college experience is ever-changing, the life lessons that apply here will likely remain the same for future generations. We have the responsibility as the first college leaders in these freshmen's lives to facilitate their growth as students and as well rounded people. True Story. Sorry for the long post.