I am not throwing away my shot
8 Lessons from “Hamilton”
I watched Hamilton again for the second time yesterday so excuse me while it becomes my personality for the next couple days (months/years). I don’t know if it’s just me, but when I watch something for the second time, I always look out for new things to learn and notice. I noticed how much the lighting alone added to the story, but I also learned a lot from the story line. When I first watched it, I was in year 9, here are my thoughts now as someone 6 days away from submitting their final assignment and entering the next phase of my life.
You are who you say you are
All those around Hamilton couldn’t understand why and how he has getting so much favour and rising through society so swiftly. To them, he was a nobody, but Hamilton knew who he was and through his work, he made sure everyone else also knew.
Pick up a pen start writing
His writing skills shows the power of communication because even though he wanted to be on the front lines, he was able to help with his penmanship and the way he expressed himself through words. That was in the literal sense, but he did the same figurative too by writing his own story.
The world is full of Burrs and Hamiltons
Hamilton was a go getter, a grafter with a clear goal and vision. Burr on the other hand, although he may have been more sophisticated and had all the necessary qualifications, he didn’t have the same fire that Hamilton had. Hamilton didn’t have it all figured out, but he knew what his end goal was, he knew what he stood for. While Burr really struggled to define his values which created room for regret and hypocrisy.
You got to get your right hand man
Rome wasn’t built in a day and it also wasn’t built alone, the same way the revolution wasn’t fought or thought of alone. There is a need for community in everyday life but also for those big goals that you want to achieve. You can try to do it alone but you’ll be wasting time. Who is your right hand man? Who are the people in your circle that you can actually depend on?
You are no one’s supporting character
Everyone thinks they are the main character in their story and they are right. We all have individual purpose and things that we need to do in life - our life isn’t dependent on someone else (or at least it shouldn’t be). Eliza was born to be Hamilton’s wife, she made her own decisions and even after he passed, she continued to write her own story. Don’t live your life as the supporting character of someone else’s story.
Plant seeds in gardens you’ll never see
What stood out to me the second time watching it, and also as a previous history student who studied this period of time, was the people who didn’t get to walk in their promised land. There are people who fought in battles they knew they wouldn’t win, just so that the war could be won. It made me wonder what battles or things we must overcome to make sure our future generations benefit. This could be as great as climate change, or as personal as childhood traumas. As big or small is it may be, the change starts with you.
Recognise your season
Washington knew when it was time to move on and pass the reins to someone else. He understood that his season has come and gone and it’s now someone else’s turn. Just because you were good at something at one moment in time doesn't mean you have to stay forever
Who lives, who dies, who tells your story
Your legacy is the eternal part of you. Every decision you make is creating history. Whether or not you will be written about in history books or taught in school, your life counts. What do you want to be remembered for?
