Since its premiere back in 2001, "Degrassi: The Next Generation" was guilty of capturing our hearts as it followed the journey we all make through high school through the eyes of students just like us. Many parents deemed it inappropriate for young viewers, probably because of its sometimes suggestive content. Nonetheless, "Degrassi" showed its viewers regular high school struggles such as bullies, eating disorders, partying, and pregnancy as well as the different ways that our favorite characters faced their obstacles. If you laughed and cried along with us and the cast, then you should take a look at these eight "Degrassi" moments that became all too real for us.
1. Rick, Jimmy and The Gun
Before making millions on "Hotline Bling," Drake was none other than Jimmy, one of our favorite "Degrassi" characters. Jimmy was forced to overcome one of the biggest struggles we witnessed: being confined to a wheelchair after being shot in the spine. Jimmy's character taught us that potential knows no boundaries as he later on pursued a career in music, all from the seat of a wheelchair.
2. Emma's Battle with Anorexia
Another powerful episode captured Emma's downward spiral into anorexia as she slowly began avoiding meals, exercising excessively, and developing the same mentalities as a person with an eating disorder. This episode showed us the trap that is so easy for young girls to fall into and encouraged us all to love ourselves as we are.
3. Spinner Battling Cancer
One of the most powerful moments in "Degrassi" history was when Spinner shaved his head after discovering that he had developed testicular cancer. This taught us that teenage cancer is something that can happen to anyone, and no one is immune. With tear-filled eyes, we watched as Spinner took on the emotional roller coaster like a champ and eventually beat his condition with the support he received from his family and friends.
4. Ellie the Cutter
Self-harming is a trap that many kids and teenagers fall into, and young Ellie was no exception. After dealing with the absence of her father and her mother's alcohol addiction, she turned to cutting as a form of coping. But eventually she overcame her obstacle with the help of group therapy and the support of her friends. Later on she blossomed into a beautiful girl and even pursued her passion of journalism.
5. Craig's Mental Illness
Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety have become very common among teenagers such as Craig Manning. At one point his behaviors began to spiral out of control, eventually landing him in the hospital. When his then-girlfriend Ashley comes to visit him he confides in her, telling her that he feels as if he is going crazy. With the help of friends as well as medication, he soon finds himself back to his normal old life.
6. Mia and Izzy
Another situation that many young teens find themselves in is teen pregnancy. "Degrassi" has captured teen pregnancy in multiple characters, but one of the best that it showed us was Mia and her daughter, Isabella. While some of the other characters chose abortion or adoption, Mia decided to keep her daughter and raise her with the help of her mom, despite having issues with Izzy's father. Mia always strove to provide a good life for her daughter, and she eventually left high school to pursue a successful career in modeling.
7. JT's Death
One of the most emotional moments in Degrassi history was when Liberty Vanzant held JT York in her arms and screamed for help after he had just been fatally stabbed. She later arrived at the hospital only to hear the devastating news that her lifelong friend had passed away. The aftermath of JT's death perfectly portrayed the mix of emotions that come with losing a loved one. It taught us that coping with death is no easy task, but that we must remember how the person lived a good life.
8. Darcy and Her Attacker
If anyone was subject to an emotional roller coaster, it was definitely Darcy. After being drugged and raped at a party, Darcy was forced to overcome the depression that followed. After expressing many behavioral changes, she was placed into rehab and eventually overcame her obstacles. She later rejoined her church and left high school to pursue missionary work overseas.
"Degrassi: The Next Generation" had a way of pulling in young viewers as many of them soon became faced with the same obstacles that our favorite characters faced. While many parents ridiculed the show for being too vulgar, we can't deny that each new episode came with a lesson that needed to be heard. Don't judge a person based on their illnesses or their bad decisions. Never blame the victim of a situation. At the end of the day, we all must come to love ourselves. Most importantly, we can make it through anything with a little support from our friends.
