I began reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower on a PDF between classes. I had heard praises from my friends but had no high expectations and thought it would be nothing but a palate cleanser between more significant books. I was wrong. The Perks of Being a Wallflower taught me exactly how I should be living the next four years of my life and provided a sense of security during a time when it felt like I was standing at the edge of a cliff.
The novel follows the freshmen year of Charlie Kelmeckis, a socially awkward teenage boy recovering from the death of a close friend. After spending the first few weeks of school alone, Charlie meets two siblings in their senior year, Sam and Patrick. He lets the siblings whisk him into their large, colorful social circle of artists, musicians, and eccentrics, and he quickly develops feelings for Sam. Through these adventures, Charlie begins to come out of his shell, attending reckless parties, performing in reenactments of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and speeding through tunnels at night in Sam’s truck. As he spends more time with Sam and Patrick, Charlie begins to understand the importance of finding people who notice you and who you are.
As I read further into the book, I found myself more immersed in Charlie’s life. I felt his pain and his hope, relating to him more with each turn of a page. This year has been one of the biggest shifts in my life. I’ve been nervous about school, friendships, and finding where I belong. There was one scene in The Perks of Being a Wallflower that cleared these worries. It’s set when Charlie, Patrick, and Sam are speeding through a tunnel at midnight with fluorescent lights shining down on them. Sam climbs into the back of the truck and stands up against the force of the wind, beaming as she lifts her arms into the air. Charlie looks across to Patrick and says, “I feel infinite.”
Find people who make you feel infinite and choose what makes you feel like your best self. I feel that if I follow the lessons of this novel, I will be able to find my way. I think that this is true for all people. No matter where you are in your life right now, freshman year or senior, this book has something to offer and a character to connect with. So, if one of these days you find yourself staring down the edge of a cliff or stressing about the future, pick up The Perks of Being a Wallflower and become infinite.
Scenes from The Perks of Being a Wallflower, directed by Stephen Chbosky
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