How to Turn Your Life Into a Coming of Age Movie--Alexis

At some point in our short lives, most of us have sat and enjoyed a classic coming of age/teen film. No matter if it was from the 80s, 90s, or 2000s, im sure we’ve all asked that same sad and longing question: why cant my life be like that? Well, as a lover and critic of coming of age films, i've gathered research to help you do just that! Follow these steps and you might just fall in love to a David Bowie song.

1. Be a teenager. Whether you are just entering your teen years, or about to leave them, i know you have pent up agnst somewhere inside you. Given that these are technically the most fragile years of our lives, (aside from childhood development) it is critical that you are in a stage of your life where you feel lost! Haha!
   
2. Make sure that every adult you’ve ever encountered doesn’t understand you. Because its not like they were a teen once in their old lives! Do your best to ignore any help given by these adults, as it makes for a more edgy character. Oh, and talking back is good too, adds flavor.
   
3. Always start off your highschool semester with little to no friends. (its okay, because by the end of the movie, you're supposed to have met them all!) If you do have a best friend, ensure that they are the polar opposite of you, for the sake of character foils. And remember, their primary function is to highlight YOUR qualities, so the less personality they offer, the better! Because after all, no matter how uninteresting you may be, you are the star of this life baby.
   
4. HAVE A LOVE INTEREST! I don't care if your crush has literally no clue who you are! Because as soon as your supporting lead gives you the bare minimum version of a makeover, you will be the center of their world. Don't forget to learn all of their interests to capture their attention. Even if it means being someone you're not, its allll worth it for that 10 second kiss at the end of the film!
   
5. Get into some sort of conflict. There is simply NO PLOT if there is no conflict. Now this part is really up to you. Given that you have followed all the other steps very strictly, the conflict should be the easiest part. I like to stick to the classic picking the love interest over the best friend, to remind us (and the audience) of the importance of friendship. And don’t you go worrying about how much you're going to hurt your friend in a fight, it will all be resolved by the time the credits are rolling!
   
6. The most important step of it all. What ​really m​akes a coming of age movie? Above all else, what is the part that you wish you could do with your friends, if only they didn’t fear their parents like normal children? Thats right, taking that 3 am drive through your small boring town. Windows rolled down, favorite songs blasting, and the montage practically films itself. Of course, you will need friends whose parents either A.) are not concerned with their child’s location at all times, or B.) simply do not own a home security system!
   

And you know what? I wish all of those steps were easy to achieve. Because if so, I'd feel as free as all those kids driving in their cars without any care in the world (and its always 3 am for

some reason?). But I do have a lot to be thankful for. My life does not have to be this crazy unrealistic expectation that i have put on my teen years after watching countless coming of age movies. My life is amazing ​because ​of the people I met who share that same longing. A movie that my friends and I will always love is perks of being a wallflower. Disregarding every comedic step I listed above, I love that movie. So much. It makes me crave every blissful moment i've shared with my friends, even if it meant hanging out in someone’s room all night for a sleepover, doing absolutely nothing while listening to a playlist that makes us feel safe and happy. I miss it. I really do wish things were better for all of us, not being in lockdown. Because if so, I'd call them and we’d go out at 4:30 am and drive to music that makes us feel incredible and invincible and watch the sunrise. And no we don’t HAVE to go out in the middle of the night, but those movies were right. It just makes it better. These are the people who deserve to sit with each other in front of a view and smile so hard they feel like their cheeks are going to burst. They deserve to cry in the best ways, not from love interests or petty conflicts that contribute to the plot. And i deserve to have the comfort of knowing that even when i feel like i'm not enough for the things around me, there will always be someone who believes that the world would suffer without me in it. And i've found them. I have my supporting characters. If you haven’t, you will. I promise.