6 Disney Movies to Get You Through the Last Month of School

By (the Disney obsessed) Kelly Kinas ‘16

I know what you’re thinking. Disney movies are for kids! The character’s struggles can’t be related to my personal struggles! Lucky for you all, you have me, a creative thinking, Disneyland annual pass holding, USC student who can come up with connections when you can’t.

Some Disney movie plots completely mirror what happens during the last month of spring semester in college. I am here to point out those comparisons.

 And now I invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair as I present to you: 6 Disney Movies to get you through the Last Month of the Semester. Be Our Guest and read on!

Alice in Wonderland

If you do not know this lovely animated movie, it’s a classic animated Disney movie, released in 1951. Alice goes down the rabbit hole and has many adventures she does not understand. The movie is based on the book series, Alice, by Lewis Carroll.

This emulates college life in the last month of school because this is what happens when you have a Pass/No Pass General Education course and you decide to just show up for a few classes before the final to listen to the review. You have no earthly idea what is going on because you probably have only gone to class once or twice before. All of these terms are being thrown at you. People are asking questions and you don’t even understand the questions. You are much like Alice:

But just like in the movie, Alice finds her way back home and so must you! You need to get a 70 in the class to pass. You have to find a way to learn everything you missed and be ready for the final, just like every other student. You can do this.

Cars

Now, I know a lot of people don’t really appreciate this movie. While it is one of my favorite, some of you might not know the plot as well as I do, as it came out in 2006. Cars is about an overconfident race car named Lightning McQueen and his journey to win the Piston Cup and find out about true friendship. True friendship is a really common theme in Disney animated movies.

This is like the last month of spring semester because you cannot go into this last month overly confident and not study enough for your finals or do enough work on your group projects. Lightning was too confident and he had to pave a road. You probably won’t have to do that but you’re gonna have a much tougher road to the job you want if your GPA isn’t high enough (see what I did there??) Be confident in yourself (always) but make sure to put in the time and effort it takes to make sure this semester shows off the time and work you put into it!

Finding Nemo

Everybody and their mother knows this movie, partially because it came out in 2003 and we were children who needed their mothers (and fathers) to take us to this movie. Marlin’s son, Nemo, gets caught by a snorkeler and Marlin and Dory have to go on a huge adventure to save him! It’s the best.

This is a perfect example of the last month of school because what’s in the last month of school? Group projects. And who always seems to have to worst group for said project? You. You are probably upset and getting frustrated because your group is full of Dorys who forget to do work and don’t understand what you’re supposed to do. But, just like in the movie, you need to support your group project partners and figure out the best and more efficient way to get the job done. You have to:

Group projects can be difficult but it’s up to you to make the best of it and help your group project partners out, making sure all the work gets done before the due date.

The Incredibles

A severely underrated Disney movie which came out in 2004 and why I’m super excited Disney is making a sequel soon. The Parr family has a secret…and it’s their secret superpowers! The world has forced all super heroes to go into hiding but when a villain of super proportions comes into power, who can save the world except a super family?

This movie describes the last month of school because sometimes it’s okay to be unhappy with what you currently have. You might get overwhelmed; there’s a lot going on! But you always have to be able to ask for help, whether it’s from you teacher or TA, your family, your best friend, or your roommate. Mr. Incredible couldn’t have won by himself; he need the help of his family and best friend, Frozone, to complete the mission and save the world. Don’t be ashamed or afraid to ask for help in these last week!

And last but not least

The Lion King

A classic in almost everyone’s home, this 1994 Disney animated classic brought the African safari into our homes as Simba stumbles through life with some friends, some enemies, and a lot of great music.

It’s almost summer. You can feel it just around the riverbend. All you want to do is kick up your feet and say:

But remember how that worked out for Simba! Yes, it was nice in the moment but Scar took over and almost wiped out the lions! Rest is important but you can’t be lazy. You can’t procrastinate. All of this has a deadline and a timeline and you have to follow both. Save the “Hakuna Matata”-ing for summer break.

Do you all feel prepared (be prepared) to take on the last month of school? I sure hope so!!

Fight on!