In the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, five fictional students that belonged to five very different cliques were introduced to viewers across the world. Forced to spend Saturday detention together, the students learned a lot about themselves and each other.
Despite the fact that this movie is 25 years old, I found many similarities between the fictional students at Shermer High to the students here at Leesville. It’s no secret that Leesville houses pot heads, nerds, freaks, princesses, jocks and crazy administrators, and these characters are no different than the characters seen in the movie.
Many of the students seem to be similar to the students at Leesville.
John Bender may have a shaggy eighties haircut and a jean jacket, but personalities very similar to his can be found all throughout Leesville. Bender asserts his bad boy persona upon his principal and peers all throughout the movie and it is not uncommon to see self proclaimed “bad boys” roaming the halls of Leesville.
Another main character in “The Breakfast Club” is Claire Standish, who resembles many of the preppy girls that attend Leesville. Claire is more well-off then the other students in detention and is most popular girl in the room by default.
Throughout the day of detention, many of the student’s reveal their secrets, fears and insecurities.
The characters learn that Bender’s bad boy attitude is caused by physical abuse at home. Because of this abuse, Bender has trouble trusting and accepting other people.
Claire, who is perceived as condescending, suffers from extreme insecurities and feels neglected by her family. Because of those deeper issues, Claire has trouble letting outsiders in, much like Bender.
Claire’s insecurities explain her struggle to accept others. While outsiders perceive Claire’s attitude as patronizing, Claire means no harm to anyone. Similar situations are the most common here at Leesville.
Claire and Bender are both prime examples of misjudged stereotypes. They act the way that they do due to deeper reasons.
The students in the breakfast club learn these facts about each other after truly attempting to understand their peers and start to look at each other as more than just a stereotype.
The students in the movie are angry. They have to deal with mean parents, crazy teachers, judging friends and divided cliques just like we do. In the constant fight against high school and all it’s components, all the students really want is acceptance. From each other, from teachers, from parents. Sound familiar?
Students at Leesville should take a hint from this classic movie and attempt to look deeper into their student counterparts. I know that getting to know students outside of one’s clique seems impossible. The characters in the movie were forced to do so, but once they did they found four unlikely friends.
After watching “The Breakfast Club,” I will never judge a boy because of greasy hair and a scowl. I will never consider someone “better then me” because they have nice clothes or perfect hair. “The Breakfast Club” may have been made decades ago, but the lessons learned in the movie could and should be applied to life at Leesville.
Katy has been on staff since her sophomore year, starting as a staff writer. With hard work and diligence, she earned a junior editor position and ultimately became Editor-in-Chief her senior year. She will pursue a degree in journalism in college.
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