Freshman Year Vis-Ã -Vis "The Hobbit"
By Paul David
With its endearing characters, thrilling action and undying legacy, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" was easily one of the biggest movies of the year. Despite its fantastical environments and creatures, "The Hobbit" remains a very relatable tale. At its core is a journey and struggle not unlike that of going to college.
Comparing entering college to traveling with a band of dwarves to defeat a dragon may seem an outlandish comparison, but bear with me. Speaking for myself, my transition to college wasn't too different from Bilbo's adventure. I grew up and went to school in a sleepy suburb of Portland. I was content where I was but felt that there was a world waiting just outside my door, and all I needed was a push out that door to begin a journey with new companions and new challenges.
It seems that most of us, in some way, relate to J.R.R. Tolkien's tale. Some of us appear happy and complacent with our peaceful little lives, while deep down we long to branch out. Others are the mysterious friends who provide that first push out the door and are always there to guide us around the next corner or over the next hill. Freshman year is the time when we all learn whether we are Bilbos or Gandalfs, whether we are the timid underdog who will rise to the occasion or the confident companion always urging his friends onwards. College is certainly a time for great adventures.
It starts with move-in day. The hustle and bustle of hundreds of other bewildered freshmen being herded into dorms, while veteran sophmores watch with grins, knowing the roller coaster that is about to begin. Not unlike Bilbo finding his house suddenly filled with strangers, freshmen are all brought together under one building for a common purpose. Just as Bilbo resisted handing over his food and lodging to strangers, many freshmen learn for the first time what it is like to live with people. Along the way, each freshman must find their place and role in this new environment.
Both Bilbo and freshmen struggle with this, but as the challenges of classes, midterms and the general idiosyncrasies of dorm life present themselves, their natural personalities emerge. Once this happens they are ready to tackle the dragon of freshman year: finals week. Finals loom like smog over the treasure that is three weeks of school-free bliss. And once again, many of us, much like Bilbo, reached finals week with a cohort of friends forged through mutual hardships.
"The Hobbit" remains a timeless movie because its hero, Bilbo, is not a hero in the fairytale sense of the word. He has no special talents or great courage; he is simply curious and willing to risk stepping outside his door to let the winds, and a loyal friend, take him where they will.