My addiction to documentaries is a deep rooted one that sprouted at an early age. As a young kid I would sit for hours in front of the TV watching the Discovery Channel stream endless wildlife documentaries, while my siblings sat in the other room watching cartoons, like normal kids. Through the years, I have watched countless specials on subjects ranging from the moons of Jupiter, to the life of French pastry chefs.

My addiction knows no bounds. And, like any addict, I have an enabler which feeds my cravings come rain or shine, no matter the time of day. This enabler being Netflix, of course. As college has only made my dependence on Netflix grow stronger, I have learned to embrace my documentary fixation.

Thus, I am here to give my two cents on the matter and to try and persuade you to give the world of documentaries a shot (I promise, they've gotten better since the documentaries you were forced to watch in high school on days when you had a sub).

Without further ado, here is the list (in no particular order) of my favorite must-watch documentaries, as of recent

1. "Blackfish"

Okay, so I know I am starting out with one of the most popular documentaries currently out there, but I felt it was necessary in case anyone who happens to stumble across this article has not seen it yet. If that person is you, stop what you're doing and watch it right now! This heart wrenching film delves into the harsh reality of Tilikum, the orca whale whose captivation and mistreatment led him to lash out, causing the deaths of three people. This documentary shamelessly sheds a bright light on the inhumane practices of Sea World, and questions their supposed "dedication to wildlife conservation." Seriously, this one is a must see.

2. "Monica & David"

Following the lives of two newlyweds with Downs syndrome, this film shatters all of the stigmas surrounding individuals with intellectual disabilities. Having been actively involved in the special needs community in my hometown in multiple ways, and having a very dear cousin who happens to have Downs syndrome, this documentary struck me in a major way. The film follows the life stories of Monica and David, and how they come together and work to gain independence and find happiness as they start a new life together. This film offers an amazing perspective on those with intellectual disabilities. I highly suggest anyone and everyone watch it.

3. "Exit Through the Gift Shop"

If you have been on the Internet at all, lately, I'm sure you have seen news about the, now, world famous graffiti artist Banksy. If you love the twisted and satirical political commentary which we refer to as his art, then you'll love this film. Banksy highlights the life and career of Thierry Guetta, a French self-proclaimed filmmaker who dedicated himself to following and documenting various street artists. One of these artists happened to be the rising star of the street art world, Banksy, who ends up taking over the filmmaking process in order to track the actions of Guetta as he thirsts for more fame and recognition in the art world. The film questions the distinction between authenticity and fabricated fame in the ever so controversial art world. It's seriously awesome.

4. "Tricked"

Whenever someone brings up the topic of sex trafficking, most people imagine the movie, "Taken," where a young girl goes alone to a foreign country and ends up kidnapped and sold into the sex slave market. Very seldom, however, do we think about the ever present sex trafficking industry in our own country. This documentary helps shed light on the incredibly abusive and deceptive sex trafficking community which enslaves girls of all ages and backgrounds on a daily basis. I highly recommend this documentary, as it is an incredibly relevant topic that everyone should be aware of because, after all, ignorance isn't always bliss.

5. "How to Die in Oregon"

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of death, or with watching those who are near it, this documentary is not for you. But for those of you who, like me, are intrigued by the increasingly popular euthanasia debate, then this one's for you. This emotionally charged and especially powerful film follows both sides of the assisted suicide debate, which deliberates the ethics behind doctor assisted suicide for those with terminal illnesses. For a long time, people would have to travel to foreign countries to get physician assisted suicide, but ever since the Death with Dignity Act passed in Oregon, people are now able to do it here in America. This documentary is truly amazing, and leaves you questioning just about everything you know and believe in.

6. "Dark Girls"

This is one of my most recent favorites! It offers a looking glass into the epidemic of colorism, which plagues the global dark skinned community. Colorism, in the film, is described as racism within the global dark skinned community which discriminates based on lightness of skin color, and which creates beauty standards unaligned with the reality of the culture's true aesthetic. This film is incredibly enlightening, as it examines media trends and Westernized beauty standards which have been carried over to countries where the majority of the population has very dark skin. Since I am constantly searching for a new perspective to explore, this documentary was right up my alley! It's not only relevant to us in the States, but to everyone around the world, which is why I highly recommend it to all.

Whether you are in between Netflix series, or you just have a lot of time on your hands this summer, I definitely urge you to give the world of documentaries a chance. I promise that they are not only educational, but super relevant and incredibly entertaining. You'll kill the hour or two you have of free time, and be able to brush up on current events -- all the benefits of multitasking and none of the effort! You're welcome.