After a five-year run on ABC Family/FreeForm, "Switched at Birth" premiered its season finale this past Tuesday. Each season seemed to cover a variety of serious topics, such as divorce, racism, and political conflicts. From this show stems a multitude of lessons about life, but there are five major things viewers can take from Switched.
1. Family does not necessarily come from blood.
The whole plot of this show is that Bay Kennish and Daphne Vasquez were switched at birth (hence the title of the show) and attempt to connect with their biological parents. Throughout the five seasons, the Kennishes and the Vasquezes prove that together, they make up one big, happy family that doesn't necessarily rely on bloodline ties between each other.
2. Disabilities do not warrant discrimination in any realm of society.
Not only are Daphne and her friends deaf, but in the last season, Toby has a son with Down Syndrome, and throughout that season there is the subplot of advocating for the acceptance of people with disabilities. When someone tries to discriminate against another for their disability, Switched at Birth teaches you that it is okay to stand up for that person, even if that person is you. Disabilities do not define who you are as a person, and Switched at Birth carries that message out beautifully.
3. Never be afraid or ashamed of who you are.
So what if you cannot hear? So what if you value art over an education? Switched at Birth makes it clear that it is okay to express who you really are. Never be afraid to follow your dreams, even if others think that those dreams will take you no where in life.
4. Deafness, and the deaf community, is actually really amazing.
I cannot begin to imagine what my life would have been like had I not watched this show in high school. Yes, this was definitely a factor of motivation for me to learn American Sign Language, but there were many other reasons, too. Switched does a phenomenal job at opening up our eyes to the deaf community, not only with signing, but also with showing us the reception of deaf people in the hearing world. The show also portrays the pride deaf people have within their community, and I think that pride is amazing and well- deserved. And, the one and only Marlee Matlin was cast as the wonderful Melody Bledsoe, which is amazing as she is an incredible icon in the deaf community.
5. Life is not always going to be fair, but that does not mean you let it stop you from living your life.
Daphne and Bay were switched as infants and missed sixteen years with their biological parents. That is not fair by any means of the word. However, once the switch was discovered, the two families made the best of their situation and turned their lives around completely. Throughout the season, life throws both Bay and Daphne, as well as their friends and families, curve balls, but by no means do they let that get in the way of living their lives. Instead of playing the victim of fate, each character turns lemons into lemonade in their own individual ways.
Thank you, Switched at Birth, for an amazing five seasons. I know that I will personally miss this show quite a bit, but I am grateful for the amazing lessons you have taught me as well as the rest of your viewers.
