If there's one thing I love, it's "Grey's Anatomy." I've watched all ten seasons twice, and it taught me the true meaning of a "Netflix binge." While watching "Grey's" the second time around, I came to one big realization: Bailey steals the show. Sure, we all love Meredith and idolize her relationship with McDreamy. We also absolutely adore Christina Yang for her brains and her funny comebacks. However, the real role model we should all be watching is none other than the sassy Miranda Bailey.
1. She specializes in tough love.
Miranda Bailey isn’t one to sugarcoat things. In season one, Miranda Bailey taught her interns one main lesson: she was there to better them, not baby them. The result of her job well done? Her interns would later become some of the best doctors the hospital (and all of
2. She isn't afraid to (rarely) show her emotions...
Bailey doesn't have the easiest life; she grew close to her interns, many of whom would die or disappear altogether (I'm looking at you, Izzie). She faced a divorce, and she lost several colleagues along the way. She made it clear that, sometimes, breaking down is the right thing to do.
3. ...But she knows how to hold it together when everything else was falling apart.
When the shooter came into the hospital, Bailey had a close brush with death. However, when one of her students was shot, she calmed herself and tried to save his life. She shows us that, sometimes, you have to be the rock everyone leans on.
4. She isn't afraid to call others out.
These "others" aren't just her interns. Bailey keeps everyone in line, even if it's Chief Weber or Derek Shepherd. She isn't one to keep her feelings bottled up; she is known for laying it out on the line. Bailey speaks her mind and has no reservations when doing so.
5. She is able to balance a family and a career.
Christina and Meredith speculated whether a doctor could have both a career and a family; Bailey showed that this is possible. She is a model mother as well as a groundbreaking surgeon.
6. She made the ultimate comeback.
When Bailey discovered that she was a carrier of MRSA and killed three people with her infection, she was devastated, but this misstep didn’t stop her career. In the wake of this crisis, she came out better than ever before. Bailey didn't let a fallback define her career; instead, she let it better her.
7. She is the first woman to become chief of surgery at Grey-Sloan.
Talk about women climbing the ladder. Bailey showed us that anything is possible; though she faced many obstacles in her road to chief, she showed us that women are able to lead anywhere. She leads her colleagues, both men and women alike, and demands everyone's best.
8. Bettering others is her first priority.
Bailey never stops teaching. She seeks to teach and better others at all times, no matter their age or experience. She repeatedly inspires the doctors at Grey-Sloan to be great both personally and professionally. Anything less, and Bailey isn't satisfied.
Miranda Bailey succeeds at being the heart of the hospital, but even more than that, she proves to be an inspirational character for everyone who watches Grey's Anatomy. Keep bossin' it up, Bailey. You reign supreme.
