Kathy Edwards is an incoming freshman at Welton Academy. (in this story, it will be a boys and girls school) She is fortunate to have loving parents who encourages her to try her best in all she does, and this gives her the motivation to try in school. A young man she meets isn't so lucky; Neil Perry is under the constant watch of his disapproving parents. Kathy and Neil bond over their love of literature with the aid of their English teacher, John Keating. He inspires his students to seize the day and teaches them the importance poetry and how they can apply it into their lives. When tragedy is about to strike, it's up to Kathy to save Neil from irreversible damage.