Take a film class.

I decided to become a Cinema and Cultural Studies minor at my current university based on the sheer fact that I was planning on staying in school an extra year to complete my major. It seemed like a good opportunity to grab onto an extra little something to add to my resume and I based my choices on things that interested me and didn't require a great deal of credits to attain. Subjects like philosophy and film attracted me because as a biochemistry major I do not get the chance to exercise the more creative, abstract side of my brain as much as I'd like. I landed on CCS because I already had a couple of classes in that direction and after meeting with the advisor of the department, I was sold.

As unenthusiastic as I seem from the above paragraph, I am extremely happy that I made the decision that I did. I will admit, cinema classes are not on the same level of difficulty as I view my science courses, but they are difficult in their own sense and I become a little agitated when my peers act like the major/minor is a joke or waste of time. In fact, I receive more interesting and impressive emails about internship opportunities in the film industry than I do for my biochemistry. I'm getting off track. The point of this blog is to push people to step out of their comfort zones once in awhile and push yourself to learn something you wouldn't ordinarily find yourself examining. I didn't realize how much movies had to offer until I learned to write 2 page scene analysis of a 5 minute piece of an old french new wave film. I didn't realize the amazing strides producers and directors have taken since the birth of cinema. I didn't realize how much we take for granted in the movies we see each weekend today until I took film history and theory. If for no other reason than to fulfill a requirement, fill time in your schedule, or just as something to do one summer when you can't get your part time job at McDonalds back, I encourage you all to take a film course in your life. I promise that if you keep and open mind and push yourself to think creatively, you won't be disappointed.