13 Reasons Why is the tragic story of high school junior, Hannah Baker, who takes her life after being bullied and abused by her peers. While this story is incredibly important, there are so many flaws within its dynamic. Hannah was hurt so many times mentally, emotionally, and physically, but the blame she put on those she cared about and the guilt they were left with was damaging and life changing.
High school is such a crucial time during your life. Your friends and family are the ones who influence you and are pivotal people who make you into who you are as a person. You're still developing mentally and physically. There is so much for you to learn between the ages of 15 and 18, but dealing with suicide and sexual harassment should not be among those things. Here are 9 reasons Hannah could have lived and actions that could have been beneficial to all those involved.
1. Communication
If ANY of these characters talked about why or what they were feeling or even listened to the person they were upset with, so many things could have been prevented. If Alex just told Jessica how he felt, if Hannah came out of Jessica's closet, if Zach would have tried to talk to Hannah after she gave him the note, and with many other scenarios in this show many many things could have been different.
Communication is so important and even adults have a hard time expressing themselves. People sit on their impulses and don't speak up, because they're afraid. It's difficult to say how you feel because you don't want to be judged or rejected or hurt or considered weak. But, if people communicated their feelings to one another, things would be so much easier. This is the biggest down fall of all of these people, Hannah included.
2. Perspective
Hannah was so quick to just think about everything everyone else had done to her or said about her. She never stopped to think about what everyone else was going through. Someone is always going through something, whether they show it or not.
You never know how something is effecting someone else. Hannah killing herself was selfish, in a way. She was hurting and felt unimportant to everyone, but she effected so many people and she didn't even think about the outcome of it all. Whether you believe it or not, you're important to someone.
3. Initiative
It only takes one. One wave, one smile, one small gesture of kindness to make a difference. It could make someone's day. It could change someone's mind. It means something. Take initiative to say hi, or speak to people you usually don't. It matters.
4. Resources
While Mr. Porter isn't the best example, there are resources that could have been offered to Hannah. Counseling and psychiatric services, sexual assault and suicide hotlines, and support groups. Why Mr. Porter didn't offer any of these to Hannah when she went to his office, I'm not sure. However, she did not have to go through any of it alone, or at least had the option to seek out these resources.
5. Faith
Even though we have bad days, it doesn't mean we have bad lives. You always have the option to keep going and to make it better. Life won't always be how it is now. You won't always be in a bad place, but you have to keep going in order to get there. There's hope in that.
6. Future
Future kind of plays hand in had with faith. Hannah had plans. She wanted to go to New York. She wanted to go to college. She knew that there would be something after Liberty High. But, she didn't have the faith to keep going toward the future. The future is just another reason to keep going. You don't know what it holds, but it has so much potential to be wonderful. You won't know until you get there though.
7. Friendship
Hannah thought she had no one, but she had Tony. He cared about her. And if she let him, he probably would have been there for her and they would have become close.
8. Love
Hannah was loved. By her parents. By Clay. By a whole lot of people who were afraid to admit it. Everyone treated her like dirt, and she didn't think she deserved any of the love that was given to her. But, she pushed Clay away and isolated herself from her parents. People accept the love they think they deserve, but she deserved all the love they had to offer.
9. The Fall Of Bryce Walker
WHAT A DIRT BAG OF A HUMAN. Even if it didn't come out in the tapes, I would hope someone would have eventually said something whether it was Hannah or not. While Jessica and Hannah are who we know about, they probably aren't his first victims. It's tragic and terrible and hopefully, Season 2 brings us justice over what he did. There is no validation in forcing yourself on someone, no means no. Even if they don't say no, if they don't verbally say yes, it still isn't consent.
Hannah Baker had so many things to live for, and these are just a few of them. Although this story is fictional, things like this it could happen to anyone. Please be aware of yourself and those around you. You never know what could change someone else's life.
If you or someone you know is struggling, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and National Sexual Assault Hotline is below. You don't have to go through anything alone. Both are available 24 hours a day.
