Dear Sir/Madam,

I am Cherry Cesa Nellas, sister of Jennifer Cesa Stagg requesting your good office to visit my sister in
Washing State, USA as early as you may. My sister is suffering from postpartum depression and needs an
immediate care from her direct family members to assist her in her parenting period. It is her first baby
and she has difficulties coping with her postpartum depression. She is left all alone at home as her
husband works every day to make ends meet.

The purpose of my visit is to tour within Washington and have a bonding with my nephew, my sister and
her husband whom I never meet for 5 years now. During my stay with them, I will bear all my expenses
including the round trip air fare to USA, food, and all other personal expenses that may incur.

I will make sure that I leave Washing State, USA before the expiration of my authorized stay. I request
you to grant me a tourist visa for USA.

Sincerely,

Cherry Cesa Nellas

New England, the late 1950s. Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), a lonely and painfully shy teenager, who is
under pressure by his stern parents because he must live up to his older brother's reputation to attend
Yale and become a lawyer, arrives for the new semester at the Welton Academy for boys -- Todd's
brother also attended Welton and was a popular and well-regarded student there. This semester begins
during an orientation gathering with a speech given by the stern Headmaster Nolan (Norman Lloyd),
who states the academy's four pillars: Tradition, Honor, Discipline, and Excellence. Todd meets Neil
Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) a friendly and ambitious student whom becomes his dorm roommate.

Later in his dorm, Neil is ordered by his grumpy and domineering father (Kurtwood Smith) to drop his
involvement with the school annual in order to maintain good grades so the boy may become a doctor
much as he has done. Neil is under pressure from his stern father's will. Also, Mr. Perry tells Neil that
Mrs. Perry also wants him to become a doctor, which further worries the boy. A little later, Todd tells
Neil that he is in a similar situation with his parents involving his older brother who also attended
Welton a few years ago, graduated, and attended Yale Law School and became a lawyer and his parents
want the exact same thing for him. But Todd does not have the courage to tell his parents that he
instead wants to be a writer, not a lawyer.

During the first day of classes Todd and Neil experience the various teaching methods which include
speeches by the trig teacher, as well as the Latin teacher, and the chemistry teacher who states that "all
20 questions at the end of the first chapter are due tomorrow". In stark contrast to these orthodox
teaching methods, the guys see a different side of the school when they attend English class taught by
the newly arrived (and liberal-minded) Mr. Keating (Robin Williams), whom they met briefly during the
orientation -- Keating tells his class he was also a student at "Helton" (as the students secretly refer to
the institution) himself many years ago. Keating enters his class smiling and whistling the 1812 Overture,
and he first takes the boys out in the hallway to the school's displays cases containing photos and
artifacts of the school's sports achievements. He tells them that they all have the potential to become
powerful individuals, and they are responsible for what their futures will hold. These two actions show
his difference from the other teachers because no other teacher would commit the actions he does.
Also, he tells the boys they may call him "Oh Captain, my Captain", (the title of a poem by Walt Whitman
about Abraham Lincoln) if they dare. These examples of Mr. Keating's teachings show the boys how to
think for themselves. Mr. Keating then tells the boys "Carpe Diem", which is Latin for "seize the day".

In addition to Todd and Neil, a small group of other students whom include the lovesick Knox Overstreet
(Josh Charles), the flip Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen), the pragmatic Richard Cameron (Dylan Kussman),
liberal Steven Meeks (Allelon Ruggiero) and the moderate Gerard Pitts (James Waterston), also react to
the first day's lesson with comments from "that was weird" to "neat". Cameron asks if anything Keating
told them will be on a future test and the boys respond with mild scorn.
The next day Keating starts the class with a traditional teaching approach by having Neil read out loud
the introduction to their poetry textbook, which describes how to rate the quality of poetry according to
mathematical plotting. Keating finds such mathematical criticism ridiculous and instructs his pupils to rip
out the essay which is one of three ways that he demonstrates freedom of expression and non-
conformity. When some students hesitate, he tells them "this is not the Bible. This is a battle, a war. You
will have to learn to think for yourselves."

A few days later, Knox Overstreet is asked to attend a dinner party at the Danburry household, friends of
his parents. When he arrives, a beautiful girl answers the doorbell and intently captures his attention.
Later, he learns that the girl, Christine Noel, is dating Chet Danburry, but does not give up the hope of
dating her.

One day, Neil finds an old Welton yearbook with Mr. Keating in it. After seeing that Mr. Keating listed
"Dead Poets Society" as one of his activities at the school, the boys ask Mr. Keating what this was. He
replies that the DPS was a secret club dedicated to taking the meaning out of life. To do so, the
members would sit in a cave near a certain pond less then a mile from school grounds and recite poetry,
philosophically drawing life lessons from it to enhance their lives and appreciation of literature. With
this new idea in their head from asking Mr. Keating what the DPS was, Neil and the boys decide to start
up the DPS once again.

While coming inside after recess, Neil convinces the boys to join the DPS and meet at midnight by the
creek to start their first meeting. Todd tells them that he will come along to the meeting as long as he
does not have to read any poetry. When they arrive at the cave, the boys hold their first meeting. Knox
shows up so that he can build confidence, like learning pretty poetry, to swoon Christine. The boys begin
to learn how rhythm and language in poetry can enhance their own learning and life experience.

During their next poetry class, Mr. Keating makes the boys stand on his desk to see the world from a
different perspective, another way he demonstrates non-conformity and freedom. At the end of class,
Mr. Keating orders the boys to write an original poem for homework which will be read aloud during
Monday's class. As he leaves the room, Keating singles out Todd and tells him he knows such an
assignment frightens him.

Keating's unorthodox teaching methods soon circulate quietly among the other teachers who scorn his
liberal and idealist methods. During dinner, the Latin teacher tells Keating, "you are taking a big risk in
making your students think they are artists". Keating replies: "I'm only trying to make them free
thinkers". The Latin teacher, a reader of the Realist literature movement, rebukes him by saying, "free
thinkers at age seventeen?", reciting some poetry from a Realist poet to emphasize his point. Keating
recites another line "It is only in their minds that men can truly be free. T'was always thus, and always
thus shall be." When the professor asks him if that passage belongs to a Realist poet, Keating smiles,
telling him he'd made it up on the spot.

Neil attempts to seize the day by trying out for a part in the play 'A Midsummer Nights Dream' the
school is putting on -- such an act is done in full defiance of his father's wishes. Meanwhile, Knox goes to
a nearby public high school football game and sees Christine in the arms of Chet, who is a football player
at that school.

Back in English class, Mr. Keating has the boys kick soccer balls while yelling poetry aloud, the final way
that he demonstrates freedom and non-conformity. Then, Neil receives a letter that says he got the part
of Puck in the play. Now he must forge a letter of permission to the headmaster and Mr. Perry, along
with their signature of approval.

The next day in class, Mr. Keating tells Todd to stand up and recite his poem. When Todd tells his
teacher that he did not write a poem, Mr. Keating tells the boy to make one up right now on the spur of
the moment, taking him to the front of the room. Todd's new poem is about a portrait of Walt Whitman
on the wall, and Mr. Keating seems to have an astounding affect on Todd. Todd improvises with
Keating's aggressive but kind coaching and he refers to Whitman as the "snaggly-toothed madman." The
rest of the class, including one of the more cynical students applaud Todd's efforts. By pulling the boy
out of his seat in front of the class and create his own poem, Mr. Keating successfully reaches out to
Todd and builds his confidence.

That night, the boys meet at the cave to hold another DPS meeting, and afterwords Knox gets the
courage to phone Christine, who invites him to a party at the Danburry home.

The following day, Mr. Keating teaches tells the boys not to conform, and Todd gets the same desk pen
set from his parents that they got him last year for his birthday. Neil finds Todd sitting alone and
disappointed and boosts his roommate's confidence by telling him that he should take the desk set and
throw it to see how aerodynamic it is. Todd's mood is instantly improved.

When Knox goes to Christine's party that night, he's asked by several of the local high school's football
players to join them in a toast to his brother, a football hero, despite Knox' insistence he's not their guy.
Later, he becomes drunk and finds himself sitting next to a mostly unconscious Christine on the couch.
He recalls Keating's words "carpe Diem" and kisses her, only to be caught by Chet, who punches him
out. Though Christine comes to his aid, Knox leaves the party.
The day after the DPS meeting, which is also attended by some girls Charlie invited, Dalton writes a
joking and anonymous letter on behalf of the DPS to the school asking if girls may be admitted to Welton
Academy. Charlie also takes the bold but foolish step of signing the letter from the DPS. During a hastily
arranged school meeting which addresses this letter, a phone is heard ringing. Charlie pulls out a hidden
phone, answers it and says the call is from "God" and that God wants girls to attend Welton. The
school's headmaster holds a private meeting with Charlie, demanding to know who is in the DPS. Charlie
refuses and the headmaster paddles him harshly. The headmaster later talks to Keating, telling him he is
aware of Keating's unorthodox teaching methods and that encouragement of free-thinking among the
students is dangerous. Keating later talks to Charlie and the boys, telling the recovering Charlie that
"sucking the marrow out of life doesn't mean choking on the bone." In the newer era of the school,
where discipline is much harsher, pranks like Charlie's can have the effect of hurting a student's future
rather than making them a school legend.

When Neil's father arrives at Welton on an unexpected visit, he scolds Neil for joining the play and
orders him to quit. Neil tells Mr. Keating about the incident, and that his father won't allow Neil to act.
To this, Mr. Keating suggests that Neil tell his father how the boy truly feels. Neil does, but his bossy and
stubborn father continues to refuse to let him partake in the play and tells Neil that he must focus all his
energy on studying to become a doctor. A few days later, Neil lies to Mr. Keating and tells him that his
father allowed him to continue with the play.

When Knox goes to Christine's high school, he embarrasses her in class by giving her flowers and reciting
poetry. Christine goes to Welton where she angrily tells Knox that his actions embarrassed her in front
of her classmates. Knox apologizes and asks Christine if she would go to Neil's play with him. Christine is
again embarrassed, but flattered by the attention Knox displays, accepts his offer as a date.

At the theatre, Neil gives a great performance as Puck. As he is about to give Puck's closing monologue,
Neil spots his father looking stern and angry from the back but receives a standing ovation. Neil is angrily
driven home by his father, who also tells Keating to stay away from his son. While at home, Mr. Perry
tells Neil that in retaliation for his defiance, he will pull Neil out of Welton and forcibly enroll him in
Braden Military School to prepare him for Harvard University and a career in medicine. Unable to cope
with the future that awaits him or make his stern and narrow-minded father understand his emotions,
Neil commits suicide by shooting himself with his father's gun.

The next day in school, the boys are told of Neil's suicide and in separate meetings, each is questioned
about the DPS after Cameron reveals the club's secrets to the headmaster. Dalton is expelled from the
Welton Academy when he punches Cameron for betraying them. Cameron's defense of his actions is
that they can all save their respective futures at the school if they cooperate, even if they can't keep
Keating from being fired.
When Todd is called to Nolan's office, where his parents are waiting, Nolan forces Todd to admit to
being a member of the Dead Poets Society, and tries to make him sign a document blaming Keating for
abusing his authority, inciting the boys to restart the Dead Poets Society, and encouraging Neil to flout
his father's authority. Todd sees Richard's, Knox's, Steven's and Gerald's signatures already on the
document. At first, Todd refuses to sign, but when Nolan threatens to expel him and his equally stern
parents threaten to disown him should he be kicked out of school, the painfully shy Todd does not have
the nerve to argue with any of them and signs the paper.

Keating is fired from Welton and is forced to leave without any severance pay or letter of
recommendation to teach at any other public or private school in the state. Although the other teachers
at Welton have disapproved of his teaching methods, most of them are somewhat upset to see the
likable and friendly Keating leave

The next day, Headmaster Nolan arrives at English class where he tells the students that he is their new
teacher until a substitute will arrive to replace him. The shy and afraid Todd cannot respond when asked
what the boys have done in the class so far, so Nolan asks Cameron. He tells the teacher that the class
thoroughly covered poetry, but skipped over Realism. The headmaster tells them they will start over and
to read the introduction to their textbook, but it is ripped out, so he gives Cameron the teacher's book
to read from. Just then, Mr. Keating enters the room to collect a few of his papers before he leaves.
Todd reveals to Keating that he and the other students were intimidated into signing the confession.
Keating tells Todd that he already knows. Nolan orders Todd to be quiet and demands that Keating
leave, threatening any other student who speaks up with expulsion.

As Keating is about to exit the classroom, Todd finally breaks through his cowardice and self-pity and
calls out: "O Captain! My Captain!" and then stands on top of his desk and faces Keating, giving him a
farewell salute. Nolan immediately yells at Todd to sit down or face expulsion. In what is probably the
movie's most touching and emotionally powerful scene, one by one, Knox, Steven, Gerard, and all of the
members of the Dead Poets Society, except for Cameron and a few other students, climb onto their
desks and face Keating to salute their former teacher. Knowing they are too many for the school to
expel en masse quietly, they remain standing on their desks despite Nolan's orders for them to sit back
down until he gives up and slumps against the teacher's desk, angry and emotionally defeated. Seeing
that his work at the school had not been in vain, a visibly touched Keating says: "Thank you, boys. Thank
you." With Todd and the other the students looking on, Keating then happily leaves the classroom with
tears in his eyes, and walks out of the school for good.

Summaries

Maverick teacher John Keating uses poetry to embolden his boarding school students to new heights of
self-expression.
Painfully shy Todd Anderson has been sent to the school where his popular older brother was
valedictorian. His roommate, Neil Perry, although exceedingly bright and popular, is very much under
the thumb of his overbearing father. The two, along with their other friends, meet Professor Keating,
their new English teacher, who tells them of the Dead Poets Society, and encourages them to go against
the status quo. Each does so in his own way, and is changed for life.

projects, where they applied their knowledge and skills to address community needs. This hands-on
experience not only deepened their understanding of the subject matter but also instilled a sense of
empathy and social responsibility.

Throughout this journey, I observed remarkable transformations in my students. They developed a

growth mindset, embracing challenges and viewing mistakes as opportunities for learning. They became
active seekers of knowledge, constantly asking questions and seeking answers. Their confidence grew as
they realized the value of their unique perspectives and contributions.

Witnessing the impact of a learner-centered teaching philosophy in my lesson plan and community work
has reaffirmed my belief in the power of student agency. It is through empowering learners to take an
active role in their education that we can truly inspire lifelong learners who are equipped with the skills
and mindset to thrive in an ever-changing world.

As an educator, I am committed to continuing my journey of learner-centered teaching. I will

continuously seek innovative approaches, cultivate an inclusive classroom environment, and encourage
students to embrace their passions and curiosity. Together, we will embark on a transformative
educational journey, where students become active participants in their own learning, empowered to
shape their future and make a positive impact on the world around them.

participated in service-learning projects, applying their knowledge and skills to address community
needs. This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of the subject matter but also
instilled empathy and a sense of social responsibility.
Throughout this journey, I observed remarkable transformations in my students. They developed a
growth mindset, embracing challenges and viewing mistakes as valuable learning opportunities. They
became proactive seekers of knowledge, continuously questioning and seeking answers. Their
confidence soared as they realized the worth of their unique perspectives and contributions.

Bearing witness to the impact of a learner-centered teaching philosophy in both my lesson plan and
community work has solidified my belief in the power of student agency. By empowering learners to
play an active role in their education, we can inspire lifelong learners who possess the skills and mindset
to thrive in a constantly evolving world.

As an educator, I am committed to continuing my journey of learner-centered teaching. I will tirelessly

seek innovative approaches, cultivate an inclusive classroom environment, and encourage students to
embrace their passions and curiosity. Together, we will embark on a transformative educational journey
where students become active participants in their own learning, empowered to shape their future and
make a positive impact on the world around them.