"She was fiercely independent, Brooke Davis. Brilliant, and beautiful, and brave. In two years she had grown more than anyone I had ever known. Brooke Davis is going to change the world someday, and I'm not sure she even knows it." - Lucas Scott, An Unkindness of Ravens
Brooke Davis of the hit show One Tree Hill was the it girl - she had it all, or so we thought. She started out as a stuck-up, shallow, spoiled, head cheerleader who didn't have her life together. She slept around a lot and loved to party - sounds like your typical high school teenager right? Wrong. B. Davis had so much more to offer. Caring, loyal, and outspoken, she has taught us some valuable lessons throughout the 9 seasons that OTH was on the air:
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Stay True To Yourself
You are who you are, regardless of what that looks like to anyone else. Don't ever apologize or make excuses for being yourself. Be confident in all that you are, and don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't be.
Society Is Full Of Double Standards
Brooke had no problem pointing out the many double standards that exist for women in today's society. Although she acknowledged that this was an ever-present aspect of society, she refused to accept it or let anyone disrespect or demean her in any situation.
You Can Always Get Through The Hard Times
Brooke survived many obstacles. From getting her heart broken, to overcoming abuse from a robbery, to escaping a man who wanted to harm her, she never let any situation crush her spirit. Each experience made her stronger. She learned that life is never easy, and that it's not supposed to be. She taught us that there is a lesson to be learned from every hardship, and that we are always tougher than we think we are. This is a trait that her friends admired, especially when they were going through some hard times themselves and had to turn to Brooke to remind them that everything would be okay.
Don't Be Afraid To Fall In Love
For as much heartbreak and dissapointment that she had to face throughout the show, Brooke never wavered in her beliefs about love. She might have gotten discouraged for a little while, but she always had faith that love is something that is extremely rare and is worth every minute of hardship. She never gave up, no matter how many times she was dissapointed, and in the end it all prepared her for the day she met the love of her life. This should serve as a reminder that just because you haven't found "the one" for you yet doesn't mean that you never will.
People Will Label You
One of the lessons that Brooke learned throughout high school was that being labeled in today's society was inevitable and that this is something that we have to be conscious of. She doesn't accept this, however. Rather, she teaches us that we do not have to be defined by our labels and that we can be whoever we want to be. This was an important lesson that she learned because it taught her confidence and to have a sense of self worth. It showed her that you can be anything, and that you are not defined by someone's opinion of you.
Don't Settle For Less Than You Deserve
Although Brooke didn't always get what she wanted in every situation, she kept her standards high and never settled. Whether this came to friends, guys or family, she always knew what she deserved and refused to let anyone treat her any less. She also extended this to the people around her when she was giving advice. This is an important lesson to take charge of your life and to know your worth; these were all characteristics that made her so strong and bold.
People Can Change
At the beginning, Brooke got off to a rough start. She lost herself and was constantly making the wrong decisions, but as the seasons went on, her character transformation was one of the most amazing of all the characters. She went from a stuck up, self-centered mean girl to a respectable, hard working, loving friend, daughter and mother. She is proof that it is never to late to be who you want to be and that we are always capable of change.
Stay Loyal To Your Friends
One of Brooke's greatest attributes is her loyalty to her friends. No matter what they go through or what obstacles they face, at the end of the day she is always forgiving and will always come to their defense in any situation. This is such an admirable quality because it shows that if you truly care about the people in your life, you will always be there for them. Moreover, this is an important lesson to learn because we all make mistakes, and we all want people to love us and forgive us when that time comes.
Beauty Doesn't Have A Size
Brooke made a powerful statement at a fashion show for her company, "Clothes Over Bros" in a later season. She didn't want her models to feel pressured to fit the stereotype of what society says they should be. This is an extremely important lesson, especially for girls in this day and age. Brooke believed that we shouldn't be defined by our size or our looks. She wanted all women not to believe that if you're not the size of the women on the magazines, then you shouldn't be happy. Being healthy and having a sense of self-worth is most important. Beauty is not a size, and no one should ever feel pressured to be anything other than what they are!
Wait For The Guy
One thing that stayed constant throughout the series is that Brooke is a hopeless romantic. As much as she got her heart broken (Ahem, Lucas Scott), she never let her faith waver that one day she would find a guy that would treat her the way she deserved to be treated - and she was right. It may have taken a few years, but her Prince Charming came along and swept her off her feet. Brooke and Julian should serve as a lesson to every girl that just because you haven't found the guy for you doesn't mean you never will, nor should you ever settle for less than you deserve.
Believe In Yourself, Even When Nobody Else Does
Brooke faced many trials and tribulations when it came to her clothing company, and when she was feeling discouraged, her mother was no help. She doubted, ridiculed and demeaned Brooke. But yet, she still couldn't break her spirit or her will to succeed. This determination was just another thing that made her who she was. It didn't matter if nobody else had faith in her because she believed in herself and and she knew what she brought to the table - and for her, that was more than enough. And it was - she persevered and showed everyone what she was made of. This should serve as a lesson to never give up and that if you want something bad enough, you can achieve it.
