by Aly Lalji
It’s ok to mourn the loss of someone with brilliance. Robin Williams had excellence and surpassed it often. He made me cry with tears of laughter in Mrs Doubtfire, he impressed the hell out of me in Good Will Hunting with his likeable but serious side. However, it was in Dead Poets Society he inspired me like no other teacher. In fact, Williams is the reason why I become a fully qualified High School Teacher
If I’m in the challenging profession of teaching boisterous teenagers, it’s simply because Robin Williams’ charismatic performance motivated me to make a difference and make an impact in a child’s life as he did.
It’s ok to mourn the loss of someone with brilliance. Robin Williams had excellence and surpassed it often. He made me cry with tears of laughter in Mrs Doubtfire, he impressed the hell out of me in Good Will Hunting with his likeable but serious side. However, it was in Dead Poets Society he inspired me like no other teacher. In fact, Williams is the reason why I become a fully qualified High School Teacher
If I’m in the challenging profession of teaching boisterous teenagers, it’s simply because Robin Williams’ charismatic performance motivated me to make a difference and make an impact in a child’s life as he did.
I’m proud to say, many students have found my teaching of English and Drama inspirational. Little do they know why I’m able to that. The answer is simply because I ripped off Robin Williams’ performance in Dead Poets Society. Any student appreciates a teacher that is full of energy, puts their heart into their teaching but most essentially encourages you to follow your dream. “Carpe Diem, lads! Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary,” is what we should all do. Williams’ character, John Keating, still encourages me to seize the day no matter what obstacle gets in my way.
The plot is perfect. An English professor John Keating arrives at a strict boys academy, his unconventional teaching methods breathe new life into the curriculum steeped in tradition. With his wit and wisdom, Keating inspires his students to pursue individual passions and make their lives extraordinary. This film was one of the most compelling box office triumphs of 1989. It touched audiences and critics alike with its brilliant acting, uplifting story and superb craftsmanship. Williams was Oscar nominated for best actor for this role, sadly losing out to Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot. Although he lost, he won our hearts with his touching performance.
The plot is perfect. An English professor John Keating arrives at a strict boys academy, his unconventional teaching methods breathe new life into the curriculum steeped in tradition. With his wit and wisdom, Keating inspires his students to pursue individual passions and make their lives extraordinary. This film was one of the most compelling box office triumphs of 1989. It touched audiences and critics alike with its brilliant acting, uplifting story and superb craftsmanship. Williams was Oscar nominated for best actor for this role, sadly losing out to Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot. Although he lost, he won our hearts with his touching performance.
The nostalgia of the film, where Keating tells his students to “rip the page out” of a poetry text book due to it having no value in his opinion, is my kind of teacher. For Keating to allow the boys to stand on a table and see that the world is your oyster inspires you to be a free thinker. When Keating inspires Josh Charles to seize the day, he does his best to get the girl of his dreams, although he failed, at least he tried. To think for yourself and become an actor rather than your parent forcing you to become a doctor is also a powerful notion. Keating inspired Robert Sean Leonard’s Neil to do this.
What will always spring to mind is although Keating was fired for influencing others to think freely and lost the trust of the headmaster, he won the students over as they stood on their table, defying the headmaster and said “Oh Captain my Captain.”
That was truly moving and if any teacher feels that emotion of respect and adoration from your students than I’m happy to say you’ve done a good job. I know I’ve felt these rewarding emotions. Thank you Robin!
What will always spring to mind is although Keating was fired for influencing others to think freely and lost the trust of the headmaster, he won the students over as they stood on their table, defying the headmaster and said “Oh Captain my Captain.”
That was truly moving and if any teacher feels that emotion of respect and adoration from your students than I’m happy to say you’ve done a good job. I know I’ve felt these rewarding emotions. Thank you Robin!
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