By J1 Reporter Delaney Jackson

Film has the opportunity to connect people from all over the world— if there is an aspect of film that people can relate to, this can spark discussion. Coming of age movies are especially popular and relatable among teenagers, and, chances are, every teenager will relate to at least one detail in any coming of age film.

Schools often introduce these stories to kids at a young age— think reading “The Outsiders” in middle school. Literature and film like this lets children know that they are not alone in their struggles. Their relatability provokes thoughtful conversation, allowing young people to use their voices.

Film, in general, is something that offers life lessons and learning experiences. “Movies usually have some sort of motif or moral to their story, I guess,” sophomore Elena Brown said.

Coming of age movies, specifically, teach young people “good life lessons and things to take into consideration as they are getting older and as they’re experiencing new things,” Brown said.

Forbes described “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” “The Hate U Give,” “Dead Poets Society,” and “The Outsiders” as some of the best coming of age stories created in an article titled “The 30 Best Coming-of-Age Films.”

“Beautiful Boy,” a story about a father and son’s relationship and their journey combating the son’s addiction, is “a really good interpretation of the struggles that young people go through in their lives, and it doesn’t try to romanticize the really hard, dark times in life,” Brown said.

One older coming of age story, “The Sandlot,” follows a group of young boys through their childhood. The audience quickly learns about the interest that these boys all share— baseball. By watching this, children have the opportunity to learn ways how to make friends, an important life skill.

People from all walks of life can learn powerful lessons from coming of age films. They can relate to them during the easiest and hardest moments of their lives, leaving them feeling comforted and heard.