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When I applied to the IB programme at the boarding school Sigtunaskolan, part of the application process was writing a short story. I based my short story on the suicide scene from Dead Poets Society, writing from the point of view of the father who found his dead son. I was 15 at the time and needless to say, at a delicate age when it comes to being influenced by powerful imagery and storytelling. Dead Poets Society had a tremendous impact on me and I truly believe it has contributed to my tendency to often question authority in all aspects of life. Of course Robin Williams became an idol and because of this continued to inspire me to both write more and strive for following my own passion and being my own person, notably when he portrayed earlier roles such as Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning Vietnam and later as T.S. Garp in The World According to Garp. And no, don't think I will ever forget the reruns of the hilarious Mork and Mindy, a whimsical and exceptional reminder of how important it is to accept those who do not, or will not, adapt to a cultural norm. The producer of that show later remarked: "Williams was the only alien who auditioned for the role."

Hearing this morning about Robin Williams taking his own life spawned a flood of childhood memories, and still he continues to influence me, ever reminding us of how important it is to not take anyone for granted and how depression in all stages of life can be such a hard battle to beat, still often outside the acceptance and understanding of modern culture. I salute you and thank you Robin for both joyful and sad, but always amazing, memories...

Nanu-nanu.