1. She is remarkable at her job.

Meredith didn’t let her mother’s name overshadow her success. She continued to show her compassion by stepping in the way of policies and regulations to do the right thing. She showed not only her patients, but her coworkers, as well, what it means to be an intelligent surgeon who cares for her patients.

2. She has (had) a beautiful husband.

Come on. Her husband’s name is freakin’ McDreamy, for Pete’s sake. Who couldn’t love that face and that smile? Derek Shepherd may not have always taken the easy way when it came to his and Meredith’s relationship, but he always ended up doing what was right. Although all of America had a love/hate relationship with Dr. Shepherd, we will surely miss the Derek/Meredith love rollercoaster. Grey’s Anatomy will never be the same without him.

3. She is a loving sister.

Meredith wasn’t thrilled about being a sister - not only once, but twice. These sisters seem to pop out of nowhere with these complex backstories and they cause havoc in Meredith's life. However, we watched as Meredith surpassed her own pride to care for her family, even if she was unsure. She allowed these people into her dark, twisted life and developed relationships with them. (At least before they were killed off. Thanks, Shonda Rhimes).

4. She is a dedicated best friend.

The best friends of our generation would not be the same without the, “You’re my person,” phenomenon. Meredith Grey and Christina Yang have shown each other what being a sincere best friend means. They have suffered through it all together, plane crashes, shootings, and day-to-day work traumas. Even though Christina Yang isn’t a part of the Grey’s Anatomy crew anymore, we will forever remember her as "our person."

5. She is a loving mother.

When becoming a mother, Meredith was at first very unsure of her skill for being a parent. Ellis Grey (her mother) didn’t exactly carve the path to the “Mother of the Year” award. Though yet again, Meredith did the exact opposite of what was expected of her, and became a great mother to her children - not one or two, but three. Especially after losing her husband, she has shown us exactly how strong of a person she really is, which brings me to my final point:

6. She is a fighter.

Were I to name the long and dramatic list of traumas and disasters that Meredith Grey has endured in her lifetime, we’d be here all day. Whether she was in a plane crash or losing friends, sisters, or husbands, Meredith triumphed. She had a few breakdowns here and there, but who wouldn’t? Meredith continued to be an excellent surgeon, compassionate friend, and a loving mother. We (the viewers) salute you, Meredith Grey, for your unending strength and courage on a show that can be a little too realistic sometimes. We have cried with you, laughed with you, and participated in the random dance parties. Lastly, and most importantly, we are so glad that the show is named after you, so Shonda Rimes can’t kill you off.