Why '13 Reasons Why' Is Important | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Why '13 Reasons Why' Is Important

You never know how your words or actions may impact someone else and their life.

546
Why '13 Reasons Why' Is Important

Many may know "13 Reasons Why" as the new Netflix original series that just debuted on March 31st, but I discovered the book it is based off five years ago when I was in eighth grade. I was told I had to get special permission from my mom because the book had to do with some adult topics, and I was still young. Needless to say, I got permission from my mom, and I finished the book in a few days. It became my favorite novel, and to this day, it still is.

For those who don't know the story, I'll give you this brief description:

Clay Jensen comes home one day from school to a box on his doorstep, and when he opens it, there are 13 cassette tapes waiting for him. The 13 tapes were recorded by a classmate, Hannah Baker, who recently committed suicide. Each side of each tape names a person and how they contributed to Hannah's decision to take her own life. The tapes are sent in order of the tapes from individual to individual. Hannah's rules were simple. You listen, and you pass the tapes on when you are done.

When I heard Netflix would be creating a television spin on my favorite book, saying I was excited would be an understatement. This book taught me a lesson that I will keep with me for the rest of my life:

You never know how your words or actions impact someone's life.

You may make what you think is a harmless comment or create a rumor about someone thinking it'll just blow over, but if five other people think the same way, that is a lot of hurt to be put on one person.

The people who hurt Hannah Baker all thought it was just part of being a teenager, being in high school, or just trying to fit in. They had no idea how all of their actions added together could impact Hannah.

All of us can take this to mind and to heart. We must realize that every word we speak and every action we perform can be taken any way by the person it affects. Something we may think is "harmless" can actually run quite deep in a person's psyche. Just think, if one less thing had happened to Hannah Baker, she might have still been alive.

Words and actions CAN hurt. We also must all educate ourselves on the warning signs of depression and suicidal thoughts or actions. Hannah Baker had let out many cries for help, and if just one person had noticed, she still might have been alive.

As humans, we owe it to ourselves to look out for our own kind. We must look past what we see in first impressions and try to open up to those around us. Feeling alone hurts. Feeling like you have nothing left to live for is detrimental.

For someone to feel so hopeless that they must take their own life is something we must learn from. Parents should not have to find their children's lifeless bodies, being left wondering what could've brought their beloved child to do this. Friends of the hurt child should not be left to mourn for the rest of their lives, wondering what could've been done to stop this horrific incident from occurring.

We all only get this one life; one chance to make our time on this Earth count. We all deserve our opportunity to make an impact and celebrate the milestones we dream of. For someone to give up all of this is something I cannot fathom myself, but that person had to be in great amounts of pain to feel like they couldn't be on this Earth anymore.

We all need to learn from Jay Asher's novel, for he teaches us a lesson that many today still do not understand. You never know what is going on in someone's life; you never know what another person is going through. We are all quite capable of hiding so much of our lives and emotions, so it can be hard to pinpoint what a person is truly feeling unless they open up to you.

Suicide is an important topic, and everyone needs to be much more educated about prevention and signs. "13 Reasons Why" is such an important novel, and now TV series, for our society.

Hopefully, we can all learn from Hannah's story.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196304
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18494
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460586
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28158
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments