Skam is a Norwegian television show that revolves around the lives of young teenagers making their way through secondary school in Oslo. Each season revolves around a different character while the others bob and weave throughout the storyline. For the American comparison, Skam is basically the Norwegian version of Degrassi; there is drama, love, heartbreak, gossip, frenemies and everything else you can remember from Drake's acting days.
While listening to my housemates translate the show for me, since I'm super knowledgable when it comes to Scandinavian languages, I realized that there are actually quite a few underlying life lessons one can learn from the mediocre acting and terrible song transitions. Here is the list of some of the more relevant and well executed lessons I took from the show:
1. Be knowledgable on a topic before speaking.
Since the show is about teenagers and their crazy antics, it makes sense that there will be scenes in which one character offends another by speaking out of their ass. Skam shows the importance of understanding social constructs and situations before running one's mouth off on a specific topic. Several scenes are dedicated to proving that if you don't actually know what you're talking about, it's better not to say anything than allowing yourself to eventually offend someone or ruin a friendship. If we took a little extra time in thinking about the feelings of others before we share what we THINK we know, the world may end up having a little more respect and appreciation for the different kinds of people living in it.
2. Your friends know you better than you think.
There may be times in your life when you don't think your best friend is listening to you speak, or that they don't notice when you've not been your usual self, but they truly do. It's easy to think that nobody understands us and that the world is working against everything we try to do, but honestly, friends are there to support and uplift you as best as they can. If a person has a solid friend group, those individuals DO notice when something is wrong or if you've got a lot on your plate. Give them a chance to prove that they care for you before you assume that they don't. Friends typically notice more about us than we like to give them immediate credit for.
3. Independent living can be difficult.
Whether or not you have housemates or roommates, learning to live by yourself without the direction of your parents or guardians is a daunting task. You have to cook, clean, set an alarm, actually wash your clothes when they are dirty, and you have to do it all on your own. Skam doesn't comment too much on this, but many of the characters are living on their own without their parents hovering over them anymore. Learning to live on your own can be a process that takes some getting used to, but making sure to keep a routine can allow you to ultimately flourish and be fully independent.
4. Everyone is going through their own troubles.
When life ends up making you feel like the world is crashing down onto your shoulders and nothing is working out for you, please remember that there are others who are facing the same demons you are. It is easy to be blinded by the thought that you are the only one who is dealing with crap, but each human on this earth struggles each day in one way or another. Some people deal with large scale difficulties and others just end up having an off day. While the range of problems is large, everyone still deals with problems. Don't pretend that you know a person's life and their emotions just because they behave a certain way to the world. Each individual deals with issues and we should remember that every day is a battle for someone in the world.
5. Embrace yourself.
One thing that is presented in all seasons of Skam would be each character's identity crisis. Everyone featured in the show is attempting to find themselves and where they feel they belong in the world -- typical feelings of teenagers. As you watch these kids go through school and interact with their peers, you begin to think back to when you were in high school and trying to piece your life together. Who am I? Where am I going? Where have I been? Remember to embrace the past so that you can begin looking toward the future. Embrace who you are now. It's okay to question what you want or where you want to go in your future. Just be ready to grow into the person you are willing yourself to be. Accept your faults and your positive attributes. Be you, whoever you are. Don't allow anyone else to give you your identity, create it for yourself.
