Before communication even begins between two people, a first impression is subconsciously created based on looks, fashion, body language, and many other factors. Typically, after a first impression is formed, whether it be negative or positive, it cannot be escaped. In the classic film ‘The Breakfast Club’ directed by John Hughes, the assistant principle, played by Paul Gleason, looks down on the kids in detention and perceives them as degenerates. Throughout the story the gang of newly formed friends attempts to prove themselves to each other and escape the detrimental first impression imposed on them by Mr. Richard Vernon. The group is assigned a task to write a one-page essay on who they are, or better yet who they see themselves as. Because the students know that a first impression has already been attached to them by Mr. Vernon, they proceed to mock his assignment by describing themselves exactly how he perceives them. In the body of the essay, Brian Johnson, the brain, expresses his feelings about this first impression and states that “You see us as you want to.” The gang realizes that no matter how they act, the principle will always see them as a bunch of low life’s, so they decide to go along with this perception and embrace it. After viewing and analyzing this specific situation from the breakfast club the argument can be made that a first impression is one of the hardest perceptions to escape.

In this classic film the students are each given their own identity and are excellently portrayed by the use of costumes and the general attitude that they display. John Bender, the criminal, is dressed in a dark trench coat and expresses an attitude of rebellion. Eventually he leads the entire group to believe that what other people think of them does not matter, that only you can create your own destiny. Claire Standish, the princess, gives viewers the first impression that she is prissy and gets whatever she wants. She seems sensitive and doesn’t feel like she fits in with the group. She lives up to this first impression very well as she acts sassy towards the other characters. Andy Clarke, the athlete, is first viewed as a strong and somewhat arrogant jock who thinks that being an athlete should excuse him from any sort of discipline. He’s eventually broken down by the group and comes to the realization that sports are not everything in life. Brian Johnson, the brains, is a portrayed as a nerdy kid who never breaks the rules. He is a timid character who takes a while to become comfortable with the rest of the group members. Allison Reynolds, the basket case, embraces the first impression of being a psychotic nut job who’s constantly living in her own world. The gang is initially scared of her but eventually learns that she has a lot of interesting stories to share. Each of these characters owns their identity and can be easily identified based on a first impression. By watching the film, first impressions are subconsciously assigned to each character, by the way that the characters’ dress, and act. The subconscious creation of these impressions backs up the claim that first impressions are made based on appearance and demeanor.

Many times people make the mistake of acting different than they typically would around close friends and family. This hinders other people to create a solid first impression and can be detrimental when trying to earn their trust. Have you ever thought of why employers hold interviews before they hire someone? Many people practice countless hours and may even take classes for upcoming interviews because they understand that a first impression can make or break your potential to receive employment. During interviews the interviewer will study the interviewee closely and record how they act to certain questions or comments. A first impression is formed subconsciously and is normally used as the basis for who gets hired and who does not. In order to give the right impression, individuals should dress nice, keep up with personal hygiene, and use intricate language to impress others. Because the students in the Breakfast Club are already under the first impression of being delinquents they do not attempt to follow these guidelines. Instead they mock Mr. Vernon and act exactly how he would expect them to. By doing this the students are proving a point that they do not care about what others think of them and do not let others opinions change the way they act or dress. Even if the students were to act like good kids and respect and obey the principle the first impression would still reside in Mr. Vernon’s mind, and would soon return after one mistake. This example backs up the claim that first impressions are nearly impossible to escape.

To counter this argument, the claim can be made that friends and mutual acquaintances can shift and reform your first impression of a person. Another possible way to escape these impressions would be to show trustworthiness, or to completely change the way you act and dress. Friends and family can influence people to like or dislike other people based on their prior experiences with that individual. Sometimes a first impression can be erased by simply getting to know the individual on a deeper level. In the film the students start off with the impression that John Bender is a no good criminal who is extremely rebellious. But, throughout the story the characters open up to each other and Bender reveals his true self to the other students. He no longer seems to be a bad guy like they saw him before, but instead just a kid with a rough past. They can relate with him on a deeper level because he trusted them enough to open up to them. 

In conclusion, first impressions can either make or break relationships and will determine how an individual is treated. Even after many years of having a relationship with someone, the brain will always remember the first encounter with that individual. Escaping these first impressions is a seemingly impossible task and can take many years, or a complete change of attitude. Because many people have different views and beliefs we must all learn to be accepting of each other and not judge people before we’ve taken the time to get to know them. First impressions are almost always seen as a negative aspect of life, but with an open mind a first impression can turn into a lasting relationship.