After graduating high school, most incoming first-years spend the summer slowly packing their rooms, having awkward conversations with their roommate over Instagram DMs and wondering why they are still in their hometown. While there is no “right way” to prepare for college, first year may be a little easier when not everything feels so unexpected.
Luckily, art can offer us roadmaps for new experiences. Here are two movies, two albums and a riveting memoir to guide you into your first year at the University.
Indulge in the nostalgia of “Toy Story 3”
Coming to college means saying goodbye to your childhood bedroom, friends, pets and town. The last few weeks before you leave can dredge up feelings of powerful nostalgia — feelings that can be heightened by a watch, or rewatch, of “Toy Story 3.” All of the “Toy Story” movies bring a certain level of childhood longing with them. Since “Toy Story 3,” however, focuses on the toys as Andy packs his room for college, it is the most obvious choice for a pre-semester trip down memory lane.
The film begins with Andy’s mom encouraging him to clean out his room, which causes Woody and the other toys to get mistakenly separated from Andy. When they finally get back home, Woody realizes that even though Andy doesn’t need them anymore, their relationship has lifelong impacts. As Andy leaves for college, the toys start a new adventure with a young girl down the street named Bonnie. “Toy Story 3” is a good reminder that everything you’re leaving behind is still a part of you, even as your life opens to a new chapter.
Roll your windows down and listen to “Pure Heroine” by Lorde
Lorde’s “Pure Heroine” is perhaps one of the most quintessential teenage albums of this century. It is best listened to in the car, perhaps with some friends to sing with. It has only 10 tracks and is just 37 minutes long — perfect for a late night drive. It captures the feeling of anticipation for something new, with the nostalgia of spending the last few weeks in familiar places with childhood friends.
Lorde’s desire to simultaneously grow up and be young forever is primarily illustrated in her lyrics. She expresses her boredom with suburban life when she says “we’re never done with killing time” in her song “400 Lux.” However, in her song “Ribs” she says “it feels so scary getting old,” demonstrating her apprehension to leave her youth behind. She respects the familiarity and comfort of her life while yearning for something more — a common feeling before coming to college.
Prepare for a cappella concerts and watch “Pitch Perfect”
“Pitch Perfect” is the perfect film to watch if you want to be prepared for the intensity of a cappella at the University — make sure to catch the cameo from the acclaimed University group, the Hullabahoos, as well. The iconic a cappella film follows a misfit group at Barden University called “The Barden Bellas” in their journey of redemption after a disaster at the previous year’s competition. “Pitch Perfect” has a host of iconic moments — Anna Kendrick’s “Cups” and the riff-off, for example — and intense, slightly cheesy, a cappella competition between the all-female Bellas and their rival, the all-male “Treblemakers.”
Like Barden, the University has all-female, all-male and all-gender a cappella groups that perform various genres of music, recruit in the fall and have concerts all throughout the year. Early in the fall semester, all of the groups participate in Rotunda Sing, an event on the Lawn showcasing their abilities. A cappella is one of the most active communities on Grounds. Despite its cheesiness, “Pitch Perfect” is a reminder to seek community as an incoming first-year. If singing is a passion of yours, the University a cappella scene is a thriving community to get involved in. If it isn’t, ask around about No Tones.
Learn Charlottesville’s lore and explore Dave Matthews Band
Like most college towns, Charlottesville has deep-seated lore. Dave Matthews Band, the Grammy winning and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, got their start in the 90s in Charlottesville. Their 1994 album “Under the Table and Dreaming” was released while they were still performing in Charlottesville — often at the now-closed venue Trax. The album centers around themes of breaking out of the monotony of life and experiencing it wholly and fully, which is captured in the lyrics of their biggest hit “Ants Marching.”
While listening to “Under the Table and Dreaming,” brush up on the University’s iconic places and stories. Learn what it means when people say the Corner, Grounds, Beta Bridge or a host of other lore. Coming to the University means becoming a part of a community built on 200 years of stories like that of Dave Matthews Band. Knowing them will make you appreciate your time here even more.
Read Tara Westover’s memoir “Educated”
Westover’s brilliant memoir “Educated,” details her journey to become educated after growing up in an isolated and complicated family in Idaho. It is by far the heaviest piece of media on this list, but it gives the most impactful account of the value of education.
Becoming educated was the key to Westover’s physical and intellectual freedom from her family. Before her acceptance to Brigham Young University, she had never been to school or gone to the doctor, but she overcame great obstacles and eventually received a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Whether college was always on your path, or something you never expected, “Educated” shows you the power of the education you are about to receive.
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