Attending classes and doing homework aren’t exactly thrilling activities. They are rarely entertaining or engaging. You probably spend most of your time memorizing facts, dates, formulas, and figures; it must be so boring.
So, if you treat studying as a burden, it’s not exactly surprising. But most likely, you don’t exactly have a choice to stop – you have to continue pursuing your studies.
As depressing as it may sound, you can still make the whole endeavor more enjoyable. How? By rediscovering your love for learning – the curiosity and excitement you experienced as a kid. And if you need a little push in the right direction, here are seven shows that will motivate you to study.
But if they turn out to be less helpful than you expected, don’t worry: you can still find a way to reignite your passion for learning. You can take a break from assignments with the academic paper writing help by WritePaper, for example. Or, you can take up a new hobby to learn outside of the formal education system. It’s all up to you!
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1. The Good Place
From the creator of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Parks and Recreation comes another comedy series with profound themes and meaningful messages. Here’s its premise: The Good Place follows four characters that find themselves in the afterlife – Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason.
The show’s four seasons are one long deep dive into philosophy – but not in a boring way. The Good Place managed to make learning about the trolley problem and moral imperative as entertaining as only the most well-written shows can.
So, if you have (or have had) to deal with a dull philosophy class, The Good Place is a must-watch for you. This series is guaranteed to reignite your interest in the discipline – and subtly teach you core philosophical concepts.
2. Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is a classic – and that’s why you must have heard a reference or two to this show in your life. Although it’s relatively old (the show’s first season came out in 2000), its central themes and storylines still hold up and draw you in.
Gilmore Girls follows a single mother, Lorelai, and her teenage daughter, Rory. Their relationship is tight-knit; they have a best-friends dynamic rather than a traditional mother-daughter one. The show revolves around the ups and downs of their lives in a small town in Connecticut.
What makes this show so inspirational for students of all ages is Rory. She dreams of entering Harvard University, and you’ll see her working hard towards her goal multiple times throughout the seasons. If that doesn’t inspire you to pursue your goals, little else can!
3. Sherlock
What if Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson lived in modern London? That’s the premise of Sherlock, the BBC mystery crime drama that gained a cult following all around the world.
Sherlock’s 13 episodes will intrigue, puzzle, and, of course, entertain you. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a long-time fan of Conan Doyle’s works or you haven’t read any of them – you’ll probably binge-watch the whole series.
This TV show might not feature student life per se, but it’s no less inspiring for any student. After all, if you want to become a modern Sherlock Holmes, talent and natural predispositions alone aren’t enough. You have to study to come close to this character’s skills.
4. Silicon Valley
Are you a computer science student? If so, then this TV show has to be on your to-watch list. In case you’re not familiar with the premise, Silicon Valley is a comedy that follows Richard Hendricks. He’s a developer who founded a startup in Silicon Valley.
Silicon Valley is partially based on the co-creator Mike Judge’s experience working at a Silicon Valley startup in the 1980s. The show turned out to be an accurate reflection of programmers’ life, as testified by software engineers during the premiere.
So, if you need a reminder of what you’re studying for – and that founding a startup isn’t as easy as it sounds – Silicon Valley is worth your time. Plus, every episode is packed with hilarious moments, making it an awesome pick for a dorm sleepover or a watch party!
5. Community
If you want to laugh at what studying at an American community college can be like, watch Community. This sitcom follows a Spanish study group that Jeff Winger, a disbarred lawyer, created to spend time with his classmate, Britta.
This show gained a cult following, so much so that a possible movie is in the works thanks to fans’ interest in it. That’s hardly surprising: Community is a witty, fast-paced comedy that deconstructs common tropes and makes tons of meta jokes.
Apart from all the shenanigans (that are so entertaining to watch), Community manages to deliver some heartfelt messages to its audience. What’s more, its characters, as flawed as they are, still learn throughout the seasons, inspiring the viewers to do the same.
6. Planet Earth
This is a nature documentary show that was revolutionary when it came out. Planet Earth, narrated by the legendary David Attenborough, shows the Earth in all of its beauty. Each of the episodes revolves around a specific type of habitat: deserts, ice worlds, mountains, and more.
Planet Earth is a stunning visual journey that’s a must-see for anyone interested in biology, environment, geography, ecosystems, and nature in general. It’s also worth your time if you want to go on a virtual trip around the world and see its most remote corners.
Besides, it has an even better sequel, Planet Earth II, that didn’t just live up to the original – it eclipsed it. Planet Earth II consists of six episodes, 60 minutes long each, and is also narrated by David Attenborough. What’s more, Planet Earth III is on its way!
7. Explained
This is another documentary show, but don’t skip on it just yet. Vox’s Explained is a perfect series for you if you want to learn about the world in a fun way. Topics covered include chess, animal intelligence, the global water crisis, and time itself.
Explained’s runtime makes it even better: episodes last 15 to 20 minutes. So, you don’t have to carve out a whole hour to learn something new – and fire up your neurons in the process.
The show’s format was so successful that it spawned five spin-off series. So, if you enjoy Explained, consider adding these to your to-watch list:
- The Mind, Explained;
- Sex, Explained;
- Coronavirus, Explained;
- Whose Vote Counts, Explained;
- Money, Explained.
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In Conclusion: 3 Honorable Mentions
Haven’t found anything worthwhile among the seven shows listed above? Or, perhaps, you just want more options to choose from? No worries: here are three more shows that haven’t made the initial cut but are still worth mentioning.
- Westworld. If your passion lies in futurism, artificial intelligence, and/or robotics, this is the show for you. After all, it revolves around hosts – human-like robots that discover their sentience.
- How to Get Away with Murder. This show follows five law students that have to use their wits and knowledge to get away with murder. If you’re a law student, this is a must-watch for you.
- Daria. This animated sitcom’s main character is Daria, a high school student. She dreams of leaving her life in a small town by going to college. If your goal matches Daria’s, you’ll find this sitcom exceptionally motivating.