Being a teenager or in your early 20's is hard. There's a lot happening and so much that you need to do and be aware of. Not only are you learning to be independent and responsible, but you're trying to have fun and actually live your life. Sometimes it can be hard and it feels like no one can relate... Thankfully, we have Hollywood to show us that we're not the only ones that have gone through things and we should probably be lucky or feel #blessed that what we went through isn't nearly as bad as what's on the screen. So here are 10 shows and movies that we can all relate to.
1. Mean Girls
We've all felt a little on the outside, and we've all just wondered why we can't be civil with everyone. High school sucks, but we were all trying to survive semi-unscathed. Also, we've all dealt with a Regina George; maybe not as bad as the Regina in the movie, but still very bad.
2. Juno
Whether or not you were pregnant as a teenager, there were still some awkward circumstances with your parents, and instances where you can feel the disappointment in the room. I picked this movie because it shows her parents as real people, ones who care, which is how most parents are, even when they're seething disappointment and such.
3. The DUFF
Everyone feels like they're the ugly one in their friend group; like they go unnoticed, and unappreciated. This movie shows how one girl decides to fight back and change, but ends up realizing that, of course, she was hella' awesome in the first place.
4. Easy A
People can be so judge-y and mean, they can start rumors and spread hurtful lies. Sometimes life can be shitty. Moral of the story here is to remember who you are, and just because your life feels like a slasher flick, doesn't mean it's not a rom-com.
5. The Breakfast Club
There's a reason it's a classic and everybody has seen it. Five teens from different backgrounds stuck in a room all day prove that while we may be separated by money, social class and IQ level, those are just little boxes that we allow to divide us. The ability to understand, relate and have compassion lives in everyone, even John Bender.
6. One Tree Hill
The popular kid liking the geeky girl who's his fathers first son by another woman's best friend? That's a lot of drama and a lot to say. So of the situations here are a bit far fetched and unbelievable for a high school student, but they're relatable.
7. Skins (U.K.)
Once again, a bit much for the average teen, but Effy, Freddie, Chris, Tony, Hannah, Grace, Rick and Nick all stole (and then promptly broke) my heart. This show gets at what it means to be human and the struggle to be taken seriously in a world that thinks you're still just a stupid kid.
8. Awkward
MTV did well when it created this show about a girl who is the definition of awkward. Parents who cant get over themselves, mean girls who are really just as awkward as we are, boys who think they're better than everyone else, and sometimes absentee best friends. "Awkward" is most definitely a show to watch.
9. Friday Night Lights
Growing up in Nebraska, I can tell you that football is important. Like really important. This show tells the lives of Coach Taylor's players; their struggles with their personal lives as well as their discovery of themselves. They make mistakes, and screw up fairly often (they are teenagers and in their early 20's after all), but they always are ready to make it right and learn.
10. Freaks and Geeks
There may have only been one season, but Lindsay and her mission to change her image is something that we can all relate to. Here again we see the challenging of societal images and the desire to instead create out own definitions.
