WARNING: Spoilers ahead.
If you haven't heard yet, Netflix released a new show called 13 Reasons Why. Just some background for you, this show is based off a book by Jay Asher. The story is about a girl named Hannah Baker who unfortunately took her own life. Before doing so, Hannah created 13 audio tapes explaining 13 reasons why she decided to end her life. Each tape is directed toward a different person, yet all of the people who were given the tapes were instructed to listen through all of them. Throughout the show viewers learn a lot about the hardships that high-schoolers experience, and many other lessons that all watchers should take with them.
1. Don't be afraid to go for what you want.
This is a common theme throughout the show. For example, Clay was in love with Hannah, and if he were to express his care for her things may have turned out differently. Not only could they be together as they both desired, but Hannah would have potentially felt less alone. This teaches us to go for what we want and to stop fearing rejection. The worst that could happen is it doesn't work out; however in Clay's case he could have gotten what he really wanted and showed Hannah how much he truly cares for her.
2. High school isn't everything.
I know that most of you reading this are probably at the college age or above, but to all my high-schoolers out there -- there is so much more to life than what's going on in high school. I understand that everything going on right now is extremely important to you and should not be minimized, but there is a whole world outside of those four walls. We all go through hardships during high school, yet I promise that you have not even met half of the people you will meet in your lifetime yet. All of the experiences that you will have after graduation are worth every second of the 4-year struggles.
3. Love overcomes all.
Was anyone else impacted by how much Hannah's parents loved one another? I think I melted a little when Mr. Baker came home with flowers on Valentine's Day for Mrs. Baker. These two parents were going through a nightmare. They just lost their child, yet could still dig deep and stick to the love that they have for one another. Without each other, this terrible experience would have been much more difficult. This teaches us that love really does overcome all negativity.
4. Alcohol will never solve your problems.
A few episodes in, you will start to notice that Jessica starts to drink a lot. Whether it be at school, at a sporting event, or even alone in her room, Jessica turns to alcohol to forget about all of the negativity going on in her life. Getting drunk for a couple of hours will temporarily allow you to forget any problems, but at the end of the day they are still there. As opposed to turning to alcohol, consider other coping mechanisms.
5. Everything you do and everything you say affects people. Choose your words and actions wisely.
There were a ton of different factors that lead Hannah to feel the way she did -- mainly relating back to how she was treated by others. You never really know what people are going through or how they are feeling, so it is crucial to be aware of other peoples' feelings. Without even realizing it, your words and actions could upset somebody so deeply, so it is crucial to think things through before saying or doing.
6. No matter how bad things may get, there is always somebody who cares for you.
This show exemplifies how many people were deeply impacted by losing Hannah. Throughout each episode, you can see on everybodys' faces how this has taken a toll on the students of Liberty High. If you are ever feeling alone, remember the quote: "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."
7. Never be afraid to ask for help.
After her altercation with Bryce, Jessica was so reluctant to look for help. The situation that she was put in is unimaginably terrifying, but it is not something that one should go through alone. Similarly, Hannah was unwilling to ask for help until the very end. If you are ever feeling lonely, hurt, or just need somebody to talk to, there are endless resources.
If there is one thing that people can take from watching this series, it's that every life is worth something. If you or somebody you know have feelings of depression, loneliness, etc., remember these seven lessons and know that there is always somewhere to turn.
