I finished watching 13 Reasons Why last night. I watched it all in 2 days and went through quite a few emotional states. I honestly didn't like the premise of the show for nearly the entire season. It was like taking my heart and putting it back in high school and it was incredibly uncomfortable for me.
I had a pretty bad high school experience myself. I left the school early, after my sophomore year, and I have since blocked out a lot of those memories. Watching this show brought them all back. I realized one valuable thing though: things seriously, 100%, no doubt, get better.
I hated when adults would say that. I wanted to say, but it's not better right now. I can't imagine it ever being different. I hate everything and you don't understand at all.
Which was true, all of my feelings were valid. And as a teenager it's nearly impossible to see anything past that. Like the psychologists said in the "after show" episode, teenagers brains aren't as developed as adults and when something is bad, it's as if everything will be bad for the rest of time. I remembered completely how real that was.
I hope that the show made other teenagers see how impactful a suicide is on hundreds of people around you. I hope the show made teenagers see how important it is to be kind, to know that you NEVER know what's truly going on in someone's heart or life.
There are Justin's in every high school, cocky and popular with an abusive home life.
There are Bryce's in every high school, narcissistic, thinks he's invincible, and is never held accountable for his actions or taught moral boundaries.
There are Hannah's in every high school, insecure, unsure of the world, depressed, and in desperate need of adult intervention.
There are Jessica's in every high school, beautiful and popular, but deeply saddened and using alcohol to drown it out.
My point is, even though I didn't like how one's mental health was being blamed on other people, and one personal choice was made out to feel like a murder in sorts, I overall hope to God that young people respond to this in a positive way.
Since getting out of school and finding joys in life, I have found so many small and seemingly insignificant things that have added up to teach me something important: there are always, always things to hold onto to keep living. There are a million tiny things that when added together, make this world a pretty cool place. Here are 13 reasons why NOT to end your life.
