Taxi Driver Made Me look in a Mirror
When I first discovered this movie I was a sophomore at Appalachian State University. I had imprisoned myself in my apartment with the exception of class. My loneliness was eating away at me but I was far from alone. I was surrounded by many people. Navigating the sea of students as I walked to class, shooting the shit with my classmates, and exchanging some small talk with my roommate and his friends. Yet I felt no genuine connection to any of them. Thousands of students just like me but there I was a year into college and no one to call a friend. A starving man with a buffet in front of him. My loneliness grew and I began to seek the epitome of connection. A relationship. However I was in no mental state for one. My last ditch attempts at my vain pursuit made me undesirable. Then I met a girl who took me off my feet. Hailey. A woman who could make me laugh a way I haven’t in years. Hailey. Someone so beautiful I felt as if I was in a trance after staring into her eyes. Hailey. I had the time of my life when I talked to her. I eventually made a few mistakes, like Travis, and she wasn’t interested. I was alone and the few attempts I did make at love and friends didn’t work out well for me. I began to notice the crowded New York City Travis was living in was awfully similar to my University. My classmates that I bantered with seemed to resemble the other cab drivers. Hailey was too identical to Betsy. By the time I finished the movie I came to a realization. I am Travis Bickle.