As I am binging Friday Night Lights (FNL) for the eighth time, I constantly think of how relatable this show is to my life. I continuously make comparisons between my life and the lives of those in Dillon, Texas. Not only is FNL filled with episodes upon episodes that you cannot stop watching, it also contains lessons to be learned and things to remember. FNL is one of the greatest shows that will never get old no matter how many times you binge it.

1. Texas forever.

Don't forget your roots. No matter how much I say that I hate good ole Suffolk, VA, I will always remember how this area was a part of shaping my life. The people I have met and loved throughout my life have each made me into the person I am today, and I could not be more grateful for every person. Maybe I will not be saying "Virginia forever," but we'll see where life takes me…

2. My dad may be strict, but "Damn Julie… Damn."

Coach Taylor, YOU SHOULD HAVE WAITED IN THE CAR. Anyways…dads love their children. They want to see each child grow up to be more successful than he. It's one thing to rear boys, but being the father of a girl… I can only imagine. I was a total Daddy's girl while growing up, but then middle school hit and things got a tad awkward.

My dad and I experienced a few of those Coach Taylor and Julie moments over the years, but it only brought us closer in the end. He probably thinks I did not know, but I saw those tears in your eyes when you dropped me off for my freshman year at USC, Dad! Now that I am in college and about to declare my double major and minor, it makes us both so excited to talk about the future with each other.

3. Small town, big mouths.

The thing I hate the most about small towns. Surprisingly, SUFFOLK IS NOT THAT SMALL. Not everyone knows everyone in town, but my middle and high school did that for me. When binging FNL, I wonder what it is like to live in such a small town and even think of living in one when I am older, but I do not think I can. In high school, everyone knew everything about everyone, including family matters.

Dillon, Texas was no different except for the fact that the entire town may have been as big as my high school. That was not ideal, BUT the friendships and relationships that came from going to such a small school are unforgettable.

4. Do not take anything for granted.

Do not take life for granted, because anything can happen at any moment. How can someone forget what happened to Jason Street in Season 1, Ep 1. His life was changed forever in the blink of an eye. How does one cope with that? There are SO many what ifs I have run through my mind through the years, and I do not know how I would be able to manage such a life-altering impact.

Street shows us that you have to be strong, take life for what it is and move upward and onward. Smash, too, was injured his senior year with a torn ACL. For Smash, football was his key to college. That was gone for him, but he proved that with a strong will and determination anything is possible. Never give up.

5. Friday night football.

Panther Football is the center of the lives for the people of Dillon. Envious does not begin to describe my feelings toward this aspect of a small town. The feeling of family. The whole town coming together as one for every game, home or away, every Friday night during the fall. Friday nights in high school were always fun no matter how my football team was doing.

My high school was extremely small, so grabbing dinner with friends after practice and before the game, then seeing teachers, parents and other students made me happy. Fall was my favorite season not only because of football, but because we are all just coming back from summer vacation, reconnecting with those that you had not seen for a while was a must, and the weather was perfect.

6. D.A.R.E.

So CLEARLY Tim Riggins missed the Drugs, Attitude, Respect and Educate program in middle school, and Smash was not far behind him. I do not know how showing up to Coach Taylor's practice drunk and/or hungover was allowed or even possible with how hard they trained, but it was definitely not a good idea.

Drinking all day every day is not healthy for any human, especially an athlete. My head would have been on a stick if my coach or parents knew I was drinking all the time, but it clearly did not phase Tim Riggins. Still a beautiful human, wow. Smash wanted to be faster and better than ever when he started getting interest from colleges and universities. The pressure was too much and he turned to steroids.

This is a lesson for every athlete. Smash got caught and the steroids did more damage to his career than good. Take your athleticism for what it is and work harder than you ever have to experience the best outcomes, and never turn to substances that could lead to addiction and damage your future.

7. We are family.

Whether talking about Matt Saracen and his Grandma, Tim, and Billy or the Taylor family, family is the biggest aspect in Friday Night Lights. Throughout the five seasons of FNL, we see how the children take care of other family members and the sacrifices made for one another. These instances make me appreciative of the family I have, because I know we are just as family oriented and would do anything for one another to keep everyone happy and healthy (minus the Riggins brothers they may not be the healthiest based upon eating and drinking habits).

8. #TeamTatted

Remember when Tami Taylor thought Julie's tattoo was a “lick and stick?”

Julie quickly assured her parents it was real with ink. Coach Taylor had that infamous look on his face that looks very similar to the one my dad would give me. You know the "what did you just say? Are you kidding me? You're kidding right?"

The reaction the Taylors gave Julie would be the exact same reaction my parents would give me, except instead of driving me to get it removed my mom has kindly told me several hundred times that she would remove the tattoo with a knife from my skin!

Fiction or not, it is reassuring knowing that there are other parents with the same outlook on certain things in life. No worries though, I am working towards convincing her of my puppy’s paw print in white ink… we'll see how that goes. Stay tuned.

9. It's Mr. Steal Yo Girl... money and copper wire.

Obviously, Tim Riggins has not had the best track record throughout this series. First, he hurt his best friend, Street, by sleeping with his girlfriend, Lyla Garrity. But Texas forever right, Riggins? Then it was the money from Guy's apartment, the man with the ferrets that makes meth. And who could forget the copper wire Billy gets him involved in stealing.

Tim was caught in all of these instances. Stealing will never be OK no matter what the reason. Losing friends and family over girls and money is not worth it. These episodes have shown me the consequences for each action and the danger one puts himself in when committing the crime of stealing.

10. "It's part of my job to make sure that you don't grow up stupid. It's bad for the world." –Tami Taylor

It is every mother's instinct to ensure the success and stability of her children and students. Tami Taylor cares about every child in Dillon. She is concerned about the wellbeing and future of every student at Dillon High. Just as my mom is. This summer my mom has told me several times she just wants to make sure I am happy, healthy, and safe.

She is just a concerned mom, like Tami Taylor. Yes, it gets annoying, but it is reassuring to know that someone is here for me that cares deeply about how I feel and how I am doing. Moms like Tami and my mom are just committed to helping us succeed in whatever job or task is at hand.