People always say it's important to have role models, people to look up to and learn from. For me, one of those role models was Lizzie McGuire. From what to wear to school, to how to deal with the mean girl, Lizzie showed us how it's done:

1. Sometimes you just have to tell people what you want.

2. Best friends are important, don't ever leave home without them.

3. It’s important to be who you are no matter what, and to keep people around who aren't afraid to tell you that.

4. Fixing your hair is an art form. You can never have too many accessories or braids.

5. Moms can be cool too, especially when you need advice. Even though sometimes they can be embarrassing, they'll always be there when you need them.

6. Don’t ignore the dad in your life, otherwise he may feel neglected and seek you out.

7. Having a crush on the cutest boy in school. After all, who doesn't love Ethan Craft?

8. Being a klutz is cool. Embrace it when those moments are captured on film, you might as well preserve the embarrassment forever.

9. Sometimes the guy of your dreams has been there all along.

10. There will always be people who don’t like you. The ones who love to point out your every mistake. Who constantly make fun of you.

11. But just keep being you, and eventually you can win even the most difficult of people over.

12. If you get the chance to travel abroad, take it. Who knows, you may end up a superstar performing live in front of thousands of people with your pop-star look alike.

13. It’s important to have people who believe in you and who will always throw a dance party for you.

14. Little brothers can be a PAIN. They're annoying and they always ruin your life.

15. But they’re also secretly great and you wouldn't trade them in for the world.

Lizzie McGuire knew how to do life. It wasn't always easy, she fell on her face quite a bit, but she always got back up and kept fighting. She knew who mattered, and how to be a true friend. She wasn't always the perfect daughter, but at the end of the day she always knew she could turn to her mom or dad. Lizzie had fun and always looked ready to strut down the middle school cat walk. Even in college, I still find myself thinking, "What would lizzie do?" and she hasn't steered me wrong yet.