We all know and love the early 2000s hit reality TV show, Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. If you are somehow unfamiliar with this show (I don't really know how this could be possible), it revolved around the high school drama of Laguna Beach High School students, specifically Lauren Conrad, Stephen Colletti, Kristin Cavallari, Lo Bosworth, and their friends. Though the drama was most likely fabricated, and the things they said and did were absolutely ridiculous most of the time, as you binge-watch Laguna Beach for the 8325th time, you figure out that it really did teach some important life lessons. (And, prepare to have "Come Clean" by Hillary Duff stuck in your head for the next week.)
Always stand up for your friends.
Remember when everyone went to the Blink-182 concert? Remember afterwards when this man called Lauren and Lo demeaning names? Trey Phillips and the rest of the guys calmly told off the man in defense of the girls. They threatened to get into a fight, which may have been a little over-dramatic since they could have just walked away, but nevertheless, Trey showed us just how important it is to always stand up for your friends.
Not everyone's going to be nice all the time.
Stephen may have been playing his girlfriend Kristin and his best friend Lauren, but he was always made out to be the nice guy. That is, until spring break happened and he decided that partying in Cabo was the perfect time to call his girlfriend a slut and yell at her from across the bar. Guess you can't be nice all the time!
Outward appearances can be deceiving...
Makeup--deceiving people one fake eyelash at a time. Just because someone has a pretty face doesn't mean they have a pretty personality! Looks aren't everything.
...But it's still important to look your best.
But just because looks aren't everything doesn't mean that you should put no effort into your appearance. Looking good often times makes you feel good--even if you're wearing a jean skirt, platform flip-flops, and a choker around your neck (thank god that fashion trend is over).
Sometimes you don't succeed, but it will work out in the end.
Never forget when Christina managed to have an audition for Broadway but was denied a role. She tried her hardest and even opted to skip the traditional college route by relocating to LA to pursue an acting career. Unfortunately she didn't make it in the show biz, but she is now a happy wife and mom, working as a successful certified fitness instructor.
You don't always have to be the center of attention.
You probably don't recognize the boy to the left of Trey. That's because he was one of the most minor characters of the entire first season. You'll probably recognize his name Loren Polster (commonly called Polster) and remember that he was always described as an "enthusiast" of some sort. Depending on the episode, he was either the party enthusiast or the fashion enthusiast, always acting as Trey's sidekick. Despite him adding any important drama to the show, he is still remembered and has a very successful career in graphic design.
It's important to always be honest.
Sometimes you just have to tell your friends like it is (especially if your friend is Jessica and she keeps going back to her cheating boyfriend). It's better to be truthful to your friends instead of leading them on to believe that the crappy things they are doing are okay. It's okay to be a little brutally honest, but make sure you don't take it so far that your friends start to resent you.
Don't be afraid to be different.
Trey Phillips could not have possibly stood out from his friends anymore. (Side note: seriously, what was up with the belt constantly wrapped around his upper arm?) He started a non-profit organization AYA (Active Young America) and did everything possible to stay genuine, while showing off his passion for fashion. His differences from the others really paid off, as he is now arguably one of the most successful from the group, working as an associate designer for Vera Wang.
What happens in Cabo really does stay in Cabo.
Never fear, future Spring Breakers. Your secrets are safe... probably.
Some things are supposed to change...
It's okay that things may be different from high school. People change and so do you, as long as you realize this truth.
...But true best friends are friends for life.
But the ones that really mattered will still matter now and forever. Just look at the cast of Laguna Beach. Sure, Kristin and Lauren aren't really on the best of terms, but Lauren, Stephen, Dieter, Trey, and Polster are still pretty close. And definitely don't forget the best friendship of all time, Lauren and Lo, is still going very strong.
