Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight. You know the English dub theme song! I beg you, please, do not ignore the catchy tune! Reminisce in your now post-90s childhood memories! I bet you can still name all of the sailor scouts in order from the song, you sad melancholic adult.

My crazy obsession with the Sailor Moon series started when I was merely 4 years old. I remember the television show coming on right after Pokémon: Indigo League at 3 in the afternoon on Cartoon Network at my grandmother’s house. Even if I had already seen that particular episode a million times beforehand, there was always a smile on my face and a gleam in my eyes.

I distinctly remember gluing sparkly jewels on my forehead and doing my own unique transformation scene, just like Sailor Moon did in the show. Then, I would start chanting, “Moon Prism Power!”, as I ran around the living room and upstairs. I would even talk to my grandmother’s pets, as if they were guardians like Luna was to Sailor Moon.

Roughly sixteen years later, and the obsession has yet to come to an end. Update: I do not glue jewels to my forehead and chant things ritualistically anymore. However, my love for Sailor Moon and her group of crime fighting friends has formed into a deeper admiration for the ensemble of inspiring, young women.

I look up to her transformation from Serena, the 14-year-old cry baby, into Sailor Moon, the brave crime fighting soldier. Her transformation goes to show that growing up and becoming a better person takes time and much effort, as it did throughout the series.

This theme from the show made me realize that I once was a young and stupid teenager, but am now a young and inspiring lady myself. It made me acknowledge that I too have endured a lot and am growing because of it. We have to grow and learn from our mistakes before we become great and inspiring.

And you can’t do it alone! Serena had her team of sailor scouts: Amy, Raye, Lita, Mina, and even her estranged cat, Luna. I absolutely adore the love that Serena and her friends have for each other. Just as she had her friends, I have my group of brave and amazing individuals. (Minus the whole superheroes reincarnated into a group of teenagers concept). Anyways, I love my girls and would fight for them until the end. We may have our moments of getting on each other’s nerves, just like Serena and Raye from time to time, but we have each other’s backs and would stop at nothing to help one another.

Sailor Moon also taught me to do everything in the power of love no matter what. There were so many points in the series where she battled evil alone just to save the life of her other sailor scout friends. I believe that I took this concept from the show, and developed my own compassion towards everything that I do in my own life. I save the abandoned baby bird and advocate for mental health. I cry when others feel pain, even if I have never endured something like they have ever before. I truly do try to do everything with compassion, bravery and love, just as Sailor Moon does.

I believe the Sailor Moon series has empowered me into the young and independent women I am today. Yes, she may have been the young Serena that cried every moment she got, was constantly late to class and failing those algebra tests. However, she ended up finding her true identity through Sailor Moon. She learned to fight crime, found great friends and even won love by daylight.

Now, if that isn’t something to live by, then what is? I may not be a superhero trying to save the world like she was, but I know with my compassion and love for many things that I got from watching the show, that I may save someone one day.

Peace out, sailor scout!