Just Keep Swimming: Peter Pan

One of my all-time favorite movies is Peter Pan, and as I’ve thought on it, I’ve realized
that there are valuable lessons that we, as college students, can take from a boy who never
grows up.

I think the central theme of Peter Pan is to hold on to your childhood for as long as you
possibly can. This specifically applies to college students. At this point in our lives, it’s so easy to
get so caught up in work, school and the overall stress of “adulting.” The stress is so intense
sometimes that we forget to live and enjoy each day. We shouldn’t let the scary reality of
growing up stop us from enjoying our youth and living every day to its fullest. This is the prime
of our lives! Right now is the time for us to take risks, be brave and be bold. It’s the time to take
the crazy road trips, be completely spontaneous and chase our dreams.

We will never be younger than we are at this second again, and that is what Peter Pan makes extraordinarily
clear to us. It takes time standing still to understand how precious each second that ticks by
actually is.

Unfortunately, we are not Peter Pan. We can’t be young forever. We can, however, be
young at heart for as long as we can. We don’t have to get bogged down by the monotonous
day-to- day routine. Instead, we should be able to revel in each little happiness we can find in a
day. We should find the ray of sunshine in each situation and make every minute count. That is
the secret to living a wholesome, fulfilled life. It isn’t always about being perfect. Sure, grades
are important, but what do we really have to show for it once we’ve obtained our degrees?

I, for one, would hate to realize that I’ve wasted the prime years of my life without ever taking
time to truly live. Basically, it’s more about the small things. Just remember to let your inner
child out from time to time!

In Peter Pan, Wendy and the rest of the Darling kids don’t particularly want to remain in
Neverland indefinitely because they know that they have to face the world eventually. Instead,
they take away that message that Peter and this fantastical land delivers: live each day to its
fullest and stay young at heart forever.

They go on to face their real lives with a spring in their step because they know the joys of remaining forever young. I think they all took a little piece of Peter Pan’s spirit along with them when they left Neverland, as should all of us.