“Do you ever wonder if we make the moments in our lives? Or if the moments in our lives make us?”

- Lucas Scott

Well, I’ll tell you one thing. The moment I decided to watch One Tree Hill, my sanity, and emotional stability were thrown out of the window. This show put me on the most intense emotional rollercoaster I have ever been on and made me cry more times that I’d like to admit. But that’s what makes a show worth watching. Heck, I even put off the last episode of the last season for six months because I didn’t want the show to “end.”

A couple of weeks ago, I was casually scrolling through Twitter when I stumbled upon a tweet that stated that Netflix was removing One Tree Hill on October 1st. To say that I was offended is an understatement. I had not spent nights crying over the characters in this show and binge-watching episodes when I should have been studying, for nothing. Unfortunately, there was and is nothing I can do. What I can do, however, is share some of the most important lessons and inspirational moments from the show and hope that whoever is reading will be able to reflect on them as I have.

So here goes.

Bad things happen to good people. To the best of people.

To those of you who have watched One Tree Hill, I think we can unanimously agree that Quentin’s death was one of the most unexpected and devastating things that had ever occurred on the show. For those of you who have not watched the show, BEWARE!! SPOILER ALERT AHEAD!!

Quentin was just a typical high school student with a passion for basketball. On a day like any other, he ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time and came face to face with a gun. And just like that, it was the end.

While watching this scene, I was quite shocked. I was shocked for the obvious reasons, yet I was also taken aback at the abruptness of the scene. I wasn’t expecting it, nor was I prepared for it. But that’s just it.

For some of the things that happen throughout the course of our lives, there aren’t any explanations for them. We aren’t given warnings and we aren’t always given moments to prepare for them. So in that sense, life really is short. A single second within our lives can change everything we know or believe, and it’s up to us to make the best out of what we have. Don’t take anything for granted, and don’t go to sleep mad - trust me on this.

“If you had a friend you knew you’d never see again, what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love, what would it be? Say it, do it, don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.”

- Brooke Davis

But there is no good without bad, and similarly, no bad without good. Life is all about balance, and we must remember that good things happen and dreams come true every day.

We see this countless times in the show - Peyton opening up her own record label, Brooke founding her own business, Lucas publishing his first book, and more. One of the most notable moments in the show was when Nathan finally made it into the NBA.

It was clear from the first episode of the show that Nathan had a horrible experience with parents. His mom was absent, and when she was there, she had her occasional crazy moments, and his father, Dan Scott, was plain crazy. Good old Dan Scott. In a way, he was one of the “worst” components of Nathan’s life. He treated Nathan horribly, never really understood him, and manipulated and lied to him countless times. However, the one thing they shared, though on different levels, was their love for basketball.

That being said, there is no good without bad. Even though Dan wouldn’t exactly win parent of the year, he admittedly is the person responsible for shaping Nathan into the basketball player he was. If it weren’t for his father, Nathan probably would have never made it into the NBA.

So although we may go through hardship, difficult relationships and friendships with others, loss, and come face to face with obstacles, it doesn’t mean that we won’t ever experience the light of day. Good things will come as long as we work hard and never forget what our goals are.

And finally, after all this “good and bad” is said and done, we have to remember that time flies. It’s a cliche line, I know, but it’s true.

From the first episode of One Tree Hill, we meet the characters when they’re in high school. Then, suddenly, we’re on the last episode of the last season, and a new generation has begun, and the characters we had grown up watching are suddenly adults with children and jobs and lives and companies.

So make the most out of the time you have, and remember that although it is true that you have ample time to figure out what you want to do with your life, you won’t be 18, 20, or 22 forever. Time will creep up on you whether you like it or not, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Don’t forget to make the moments in your life, but also don’t forget to let the moments make you.

"It's the oldest story in the world. One day, you're 17 and planning for somebody. And then quietly and without you really noticing, someday is today, and then someday is yesterday. And this is your life."

- Nathan Scott