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Time has somehow flown by and dragged on over the past few months. For my last of these blogs, I think it is fitting to talk about one of my favorite movies ever. I put it on when I need a pick-me-up or when I can’t decide on something else to watch. It is 10 Things I Hate About You.

This film is a modernized version of The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. It is a 90s classic, a gold standard for teen rom-coms, and contains more than meets the eye. 

The main character, Kat Stratford (played by Julia Stiles), is a bit of a negative force at her school. She pushes people away with her comments and impulsive actions. At the same time, she appears to be content with herself. She enjoys reading and pursuing knowledge about social theory and progressive reform. She is a self-proclaimed feminist and very vocal about this. Still, though, Kat is subject to many insults from her peers, many of who don’t understand her. 

When her path crosses that of Patrick Verona, who is played by Heath Ledger, things start to change a bit. He is another outsider with a collection of false rumors about his character and whereabouts. Though they are set up in a scheme paramount to any teen movie (which is a little too complex to explain briefly), it is evident that they bring out the best in each other. 

What makes this film unique is that while it maintains many of the loveable rom-com attributes, it also strays from the more harmful ones. For example, Kat does not receive the usual makeover, such as in She’s All That. Kat’s demeanor changes a bit as she grows happier, but she keeps her personality and looks. She remains herself. She does not need to be a different person in order to find a man or love for that matter. 

The movie features encouraging actions from other characters. Kat’s younger sister, for instance, appears to be the complete opposite of her. She prefers being a social bug and much more “girly” in her style. However, she still holds Kat’s same moral values. It shows that there is no singular way for a person to be, even if society says otherwise. Also included is their English teacher, who is quick to check Kat’s privilege and keep the students grounded, all while teaching them about Shakespearian sonnets. 

It’s definitely not the most spectacular film, but certainly one that I could watch over and over. Its humor and sweet moments are some of its best traits, in addition to its important reminders. It does not matter if we’re a Kat, Bianca, or Patrick – we’re all just living life.