5 Life Lessons for College, Courtesy of Ferris Beuller
January 29th, 2009 Jamie
It’s easy to pass off Ferris Beuller (famed for his Day Off) as the ultimate slacker, but with this opinion I must beg to differ. In fact, I personally feel that most of us have a lot to learn from dear Ferris. Allow me to enumerate the many life lessons exemplified by his very awesome ideals.
Do Your Research.
Ferris was no dummy. When he decided to take on a big project (his day off, of course), he planned. He prepared. He researched. He chose the day, selected his accomplices, and even worked up a very believable illness (complete with clammy hands). And because of his preparation, his very excellent schemes were (mostly) successful. And that, my friends, is why you should study up before you write your midterm papers.
Take Risks.
Sure, Ferris planned carefully, but he also knew when to take a risk or two. (Like visiting Wrigley Field where he ended up on national TV, or dancing on that float at a parade near his dad’s office.) I’m not going to recommend you borrow a Ferrari without asking, but I do advocate taking risks that would improve your life–like trying out a daunting class, finally asking your crush out, or studying abroad in a foreign country. Ferris would do it.
Be Cultured.
A wise teacher once said, “The point of an education is to get the joke.” And oh, that is true. (Example: I can’t tell you HOW many jokes I catch on the Simpsons that I would have missed without paying attention in English class.)
I believe Ferris would agree. He did not skip school simply to take in a movie. Oh no! He visited real, meaningful venues like the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Board of Trade. He experienced lasting parts of our culture. So be like Ferris, and next time you’re trying to think of a way to spend a Thursday afternoon, hit a museum instead of a Starbucks. So you, too, may “get the joke.”
Network.
Networking will get you far, both in and out of school. Ferris was so tapped in to his high school’s web of students that no sooner did he show up “sick” than the whole school knew–they were doing a “Save Ferris” fundraiser by the end of his day off. So if you want to open up potential job opportunities early on, get to know your peers, your professors, and others in your industry.
Occasionally, Take a Day Off.
Work hard in school, at work, and at your relationships, but every now and then you need to give yourself a break. Take a Saturday to just enjoy the fresh air, see the sights, do something you’ve always wanted to do.
And if you haven’t yet seen Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, I would highly recommend it–it is so choice.
Until next time,
photo: kidney bean by nisey
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7 Comments Add your own
1. Steve | January 29th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Great post!
However, when referring to Ferris Bueller, that picture is anachronistic…Millennium Park and “The Bean” didn’t exist when the movie was made.
2. TheDutchSchoolKid | January 29th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
What a wonderfull post! And what a perfect example, I will think more of Ferris. Thanks.
3. Jamie | January 29th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
@ Steve: You speak the truth. I will remedy that immediately!
4. 1.29.09 Featured blogs of&hellip | January 30th, 2009 at 10:38 am
[...] 5 life lessons for college, courtesy of Ferris Beuller. [Surviving College Life] [...]
5. Julie | January 30th, 2009 at 11:16 am
I like how you used examples from Ferris Beuller. It makes this post very interesting and fun to read, while there is a lot of insight.
6. Rorschach | February 10th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
It’s Ferris Bueller, not Beuller.
7. Dominic | March 3rd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I think that Ferris Buller very intreset to because it have helpful information that i will use in the future.
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