Two Reasons Why You Should Check Out The Movie The Pursuit Of Happyness

By Elena Parrish on December 9, 2016

cloudfront.net

Over the weekend I watched a great movie that I believe everyone should see! It was 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness, featuring Will Smith and his real life son Jaden Smith. There are some pivotal lessons in this movie, lessons that I believe are relatable to every person especially to us as young adults. I want to talk about how amazing this movie was and why you should watch it!  The main character Chris Gardner is a noble example of a person who has applied the principles that of leadership and success. Chris Gardner was a victim of homelessness but despite the odds stacked against him he was determined to make ends meet for him and his child. Earlier in the movie, Chris and his wife were not financially stable and were living from paycheck to paycheck. His wife was a nurse but Chris did not have a steady job. Eventually, the story takes a turn and it’s only his son and him with seemingly little money to survive on.

The obstacles that he endures in this movie and how he overcomes it made me think about my own difficulties in life and how to overcome it. There are two notable traits that I saw in him throughout the movie, and that I believe you should try to posses as well! He had great determination and confidence. Two things that will never fail you.

Reason number one why you should check out this movie

One commendable trait in which the character Chris displayed that stood out to me was determination. Throughout the movie the character faced major setbacks; he lost his car, his wife left him, he became homeless, and had little money.  Despite all those obstacles he believed in himself. A moment in the movie that he displayed this characteristic was the day before his interview at Dean Witter- a brokerage company, he ended up spending a night’s stay in jail for parking tickets. Despite his below par appearance he did not allow that to stop him from missing the interview while any average person would have proposed an excuse. Not only did he show determination but also self-confidence; he was aware of his weaknesses and strengths. This is very relatable to us young adults who are going to be graduating and looking for jobs in the near future. We sometimes sell ourselves short and think that we aren’t qualified for a certain position because we have little to no experience. In fact, that is what should motivate us to work harder to impress the employer. In this movie, Chris doesn’t allow his appearance or negative thoughts stop him from going after the job. I think that we should all strive to be like that. In the interview he said, “I’m the type of person if I don’t know the answer, I’m going to tell you I don’t know, but I will find the answer.” I believe these personal traits that Chris demonstrated speaks volumes of his character, setting an amazing example for his young son to follow and to the audience.

Reason #2

Along with determination, the character Chris Gardner possessed confidence. Chris was very self aware of his strengths and weaknesses. He was very sure of his abilities and displayed a high amount of self -confidence. In the movie, he met his future employer to discuss an application. However, the employer was so busy engulfed with trying to solve a Rubik’s cube. Chris knew for certain that he could solve it even after the employer Mr. Twistle, repeatedly told him he couldn’t. Nevertheless, he didn’t let Mr. Twistle’s discouraging words stop him from attempting to solve it, which he did, and it landed him an interview.  His confidence and steadfastness was what the employer was looking for. I personally, and I’m sure you have too, have been in situations during interviews or other scenarios at work where people in charge are paying particular attention to how you handle stress or looking to see if you can accomplish something challenging. That is exactly what happened here and I feel like we can use that as a guideline to how we should act in our careers and life in general. This brings me to a key point in the film when he tells his son, “ Don’t let people discourage you from your dreams just because they have been unsuccessful themselves.” I think that is the single most important takeaway, being the change you wish to see, and Chris Gardner is a great example of someone who embodies just that. He went from homeless to being a millionaire to opening his own company. The Pursuit of Happyness, is a story of triumph and it shows how anyone can be a leader if you have determination, confidence, and drive to be successful.

theage.com

 

 

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