"Gossip Girl" first started in 2007, right when I was in ninth grade. The show comprised of showing the life of Upper East Side families, primarily the youth, and how wealth and power influenced their lives. Me being the naive-self I was got hooked on seeing the power and popularity brought being rich. I got enriched with the fashion every character had, the drama the middle-class high school student wouldn’t ever have, and the schemes that can be thought to destroy an opposing foe in life.

1. An unfailing love for the city that never sleeps.

First and foremost, "Gossip Girl" opened me up to every aspect of the city of New York. It spanned across the different neighborhood and didn’t focus on just the Upper East Side. It brought light to symbols of Manhattan. Central Park, the steps of The Met, Empire State Building. Every spot the New York crowd gathered to show the diversity of the city, Gossip Girl made sure to show it.

2. Be confident in who you are.

Blair Waldorf. Serena Van Der Woodsen. Charles Bass. Georgina Sparks. Every one of them had their own character. They knew what they were, and they didn’t hide it or try and change it. Blair Waldorf could destroy even the most powerful man. Serena reigned supreme with her elegance and charisma. Charles could woo any woman. And no one could scheme like Georgina. Watching their confidence, their determination, inspired me personally to make sure I was always true to myself, about myself.

3. Breakups are meant to be messy.

No one ever said it would be easy. Dan and Serena, Chuck and Blair, they all brought out the worst in them during their break-ups. Serena did drugs and random men. Blair destroyed the innocent from their power. Chuck ran to another country and got mugged. Dan exploited his friends’ secrets. They all experienced things they never thought would happen. We all go through relationships by talking to friends, trying to get our mind off it, and even drinking away the pain. But at the end of the day, they are going to be messy no matter how much we try and control it. The key is to remember that we don’t have control over the mess but over how to handle the mess. We all fall in love, and when we break up, it’s not as easy to turn off that love as one would think.

4. You’re no one until you’re talked about.

Popularity. Maybe we only see it in high school. Eating lunch with the cool kids, or drinking at prom, or even getting a car. We all wanted to be the “it” in life during those years. And it’s true. Even as we grow older into college and beyond, we all still want to be the center of attention to some degree. We all want people to talk great about us. If there’s anything "Gossip Girl" has taught the youth of this world, it’s to always strive to be “it” -- make people want to be you.

5. Respect is better than groveling.

Blair always had her minions by her side. To humor her every whim and assist in every destruction. She didn’t like any of them nor did she make an attempt to. They too didn’t like her They stayed loyal to her because they feared her, feared her ability to make their lives miserable. They gave her respect and loyalty because of her power, her ability. I would rather be respected by others than me trying to attempt to win them over if I know they don’t like me to begin with.

6. Never give up on the ones we care for.

Chuck seemed to be the most heartless character when season 1 first began. Towards the end of the series, he was the character with the biggest heart of all. Although this would be a perfectly good lesson on judging a book by its cover, it’s not. He showed us how we can never give up on those we care about. We’re human, we make mistakes, we fall down. But as fellow humans, we should help them up, despite the trouble. Chuck didn’t care Blair was married or pregnant, he risked his own wealth and power to help her in season five. Likewise Nate risked his own career to save many of his friends from media scandals throughout season four and five. One of the main themes I believe "Gossip Girl" focused on was the survival of friendship through trials.

7. Retail therapy is a proven cure.

"Gossip Girl" was one of the very few shows that heavily focused on the fashion of every character. The show also showed scenes of the plot in-cased popular fashion stores. I personally started watching what I wear and how good I look once I started watching the show and now I find myself spending hundreds of dollars at stores on clothes I do not need. This happens most commonly when I’m in a bad mood or just need to get my mind off of something. As much as I love shopping now, I think my bank needs a new alternative to my bad mood days!

8. We decide our life.

We’re young. We’re wild. We’re free. Not to quote Wiz Khalifa but it is our life. We can never allow any other authority or power to control it. They are not the ones living it nor will they experience it. Seasons one and two of the show focused on the parental and societal influences to colleges and career. Nate’s father wanted him to pursue Dartmouth. Lily wanted Serena to pursue Brown and become a success in law and finance. Blair’s mother wanted her to experience finance and then take over the Waldorf corporation. Dan saw everyone excited for college and he didn’t even have a care for it. They all defied their parents one way or another in terms to their future and made their own life. I’m not saying we all defy our parents but we should rise above their expectations of us. Prove to parents, to society, to whoever and whatever else influences us, that their expectations are mere stepping stones to us defining our lives by ourselves and exceeding every limitation. It is our life after all.

9. Know how to make an entrance.

No matter where are going or coming from, whenever we enter the room, all eyes should be on us. Chuck enters the room and everyone is amazed by his fashion style. Blair enters the room and everyone was in dread fearing her power. Nate enters the room and everyone is taken away by his looks. Georgina enters the room and everyone knows a scheme is about to happen. Every character had a thing about them that was shown by the way they made entrances. Do you have a thing that shows when you enter the room? True enough, I enter the room and everyone knows the “unfiltered, narcissist is in the building” but that’s who I am. So does your entrance speak to who you are or do you hide your character with a fake entrance?

10. Always speak your mind.

When Blair didn’t love the Prince anymore, she spoke out. When Serena was still in love with Dan, she spoke out. When Dan had feelings for Blair, he spoke out. When Nate knew Chuck was never to blame for any mishaps, he spoke out. When Chuck wanted to make sure Blair was happy in her marriage, he spoke out and defended her. Likewise, we should speak out. Not only to defend others, or make others aware of what is on our mind, but so everyone knows we too have a voice.

11. Know your love.

When Chuck Bass let go of Blair, he had no idea the kind of turmoil he'd be putting himself through when he let go. But he loved her so much he just wanted her to be happy, with the right person. Likewise we too should examine our love. Is mine right or great? Is it out of convenience or am I striving to make it great? What made me like him/her? Am I right for him/her? Is he/she right for me? We need to ask ourselves these questions before making long term commitments only to end in failure.

"Gossip Girl" gave laughs, tears, smiles, and heartache. But through it all, I learned many lessons which I hold near and dear to how I am as a person. I never settle for less. I always strive for greatness. And above all, I care for my friends and my love. The show may have ended but it has left an everlasting mark on the generation that is rising to become the parental generation of next. Let's take these lessons into account and focus on our lives for the better and hopefully, the richer!