Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

14. Make Your Own Decisions, Be Your Own Person
My Catholic-Camp Social Suicide Experiment

This lesson happens to be the most relevant when it comes Glee. The students struggle everyday to be in a club that they love. They get Slushies thrown in their face, tossed in the garbage, and shoved against lockers. Yet they remain strong in their loyalty to Mr. Schu and each other.

I went to a Catholic high school. We had pictures of Jesus hanging in every corner, we prayed twice a day, and going to church was mandatory. At my senior prom, they turned off the music because of the way people were dancing.
"If the boy is not looking at your face, he is disrespecting your body," our principal said.
"Leave room for the Holy Spirit," Father George announced into the microphone.

Every spring, our school hosted a 4-day religious retreat that a small group of students volunteered to go on. It was called Kairos. But the rumor was that everyone that went on this retreat came back as part of the "Kairos Cult". All of the girls in my high school (it was an all-girls high school, so that made it even more dramatic) that didn't like Kairos called it "Kaigross". I was among these people, just because making fun of Kairos was easier than standing up for it. But during the spring of my senior year, my math teacher, Mrs. Ladd, who did not particularly like me, pulled me aside after class.
"I think you should sign up for Kairos. It'd be really good for you," she said.
"I'll check my schedule," I said, like a snotty 18-year-old.
"Natalie. It's a really good experience. I know the girls make fun of it, but the people that end up going really are great people. I know they're not your crowd, but it's worth a try."

Always a sucker for guilt, I entered for the retreat. I spent four days with girls that I never would have talked to. At the retreat, I received an envelope from one of the counselors, and in it was a letter from Mrs. Ladd.
"Natalie," it said. "I am so proud of you for making the right decision and going on the retreat. I can't wait to hear about it when you get back."

When I got back, all of my friends welcomed me as I expected them to.
"How was Kaigross?" They said at lunch.
But I ignored their comments, and I ended up having a great time at the retreat.

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

13. Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover
My Initial Hatred for Someone Has Changed Completely

This happens to Mercedes on Season 1. Sue Sylvester makes a judgement about Mercedes based on the fact that she is the only African-American girl in Glee. After making a brief statement about "minorities" in Glee, Mercedes says, "My dad's a dentist."

This is one of my worst habits. I always judge people based on first impressions. I try to tell myself to stop, but I've decided it's only natural. First impressions are important. However, they can be very wrong.

The first time I met Corey was at an after-school tutoring program for middle school kids. We had a mutual friend who offered to drive us all to the program. I agreed I would go with her. Among our small group of friends, Corey was someone I had never met before. And I thought he was obnoxious. He always had to have the right answer to everything and always had a smartass comment. When he tried to debate with me over whether Harry Potter was good, I knew I would never come around to liking him.

But I had made a quick judgement, and I was wrong. After hanging out with Corey, he is now one of my best friends a year and a half later. Now I can openly tell him how I felt in the beginning.
"I hated you. You were really obnoxious," I say.
"Likewise," he says.

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

12. Don't Let a Bully Bring You Down
       My Gymnastics-Bully Nightmare

This lesson goes beyond McKinley High. Whether it's Will and Sue Sylvester, Santana and everyone, Puck and the losers, or Quinn and Rachel, I've learned this lesson the hard way. Sure, I've never been thrown into a dumpster like Kurt, but my bad experience has scarred me for life.

I was nine years old. I didn't even know what bullies were. I had been doing gymnastics for two years, and I loved it. I had my mom drive me to practice early and I'd stay late. I loved shopping for leotards and wearing bright-colored tights. I would tumble around the studio with my new friends. Then, it happened.

Amanda was taller and bigger than all the others girls in our class. Her hair was platinum blonde and spiky. She was a bad dancer. She messed up the routines and made fun of the other girls, particularly me. She would make fun of me when my dance moves were off, and I went home crying the first day she joined.

"I'm calling your teacher, that's it," mom said on the drive home.
"No. Don't. That'll make it worse," I said. I promised to stand up for myself the next day.

Except Amanda made fun of me more than before. When we were standing in line to do hand-stands, she cut in front of me.
"I was here first," I said. I was excited to stand up for myself.
"So? Nobody cares," she said.
And I cried. I quit gymnastics after that day, despite my parents' best attempts at convincing me to stay. I regret that decision more than anything. I never got back into it after that, and I wonder what would have happened if Amanda had never come into my life.

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

11. Do What You Love, Not What Anyone Else Tells You to Do.

Unfortunately I can relate to Will Schuester on this one. His marriage falls apart due to several reasons, but a huge one is the fact that he doesn't make enough money to support his materialistic wife. Terri tells Will that he needs to get a second job in addition to his full-time teaching job. Will actually considers this and applies to be an accountant. But then he realizes that Terri should support what he loves to do, and he decides to stick with his job at McKinley High. Why? He says openly that teaching is his passion.

The day I told my family I was changing my major from Business to English, all were supportive except for one: my dad. Unfortunately, he wanted me to take the business-route in my career, and immediately asked what I was planning to do with an English degree. My response was simple: teach. He wasn't mad, but he was far from thrilled.
"Teachers are overworked and underpaid," he said.
"I don't care," I said back.
He forced a smile. To this day, I can tell he wishes I would have chosen differently. When I go home for the weekend, he casually brings up the topic at dinner.
"I hired a young woman today at work," he says.
"So?" I reply. I know what's coming next.
"She went to school to be a teacher. She worked for two years and realized how hard it was. Kids are bad. Not like when I was your age. Now they're really bad. So she quit. Said it wasn't worth the money."
And so our conversation continues every weekend. I wonder when he'll give up. This situation is sad, but true. I know what I want, and just because my dad may be waiting to prove otherwise, I will continue to follow my dreams.

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

11. Some Friendships Fall Apart, and it's Not Always a Bad Thing.

People change. And some people just suck. Not everyone is a good friend. And unfortunately, I found this out the hard way more than once. I wish people would come with signs attached to them reading, "I'll steal your boyfriend" or "I'll stab you in the back". Wouldn't life be so much easier?

I became friends with Nicole in 11th grade math class. We instantly clicked, and we had the same sense of humor, so we laughed through every class. One day, Nicole started talking about a girl in our class, Marissa, whom she knew I didn't like. Since I am not a confrontational person, I just steered clear of Marissa. Nicole would say how Marissa was fake and a liar, and I agreed, thinking our conversation was private.

A few weeks later, Marissa confronted me and said she heard I was saying things behind her back. Well, I was. But how could I tell her that Nicole said all the same things? I couldn't. It turned into a huge fight that was completely unnecessary. Turns out, Nicole enjoyed being two-faced and causing senseless drama. I learned a very important lesson the hard way. Thank you, Nicole. My friendship wiith Nicole promptly ended after that, and it was for the better.

This situation reflects the friendship of Finn and Puck. Once best friends, Puck betrayed Finn by hooking up with Quinn. They ended their friendship, and it was probably for the better. Who needs friends that bring them down? I don't.

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

10. What You Don't Know Won't Hurt You.


I got this lesson from Rachel's and Finn's (failed) relationship. Everything was going great, until Rachel dug up some old dirt about Finn and Santana hooking up, and then things went sour for these two. Although Rachel had the right to know about Finn's past, they weren't together when it happened, and it eventually ate away at her until she let jealousy get the best of her. What's the lesson to be learned from this? Sometimes not knowing something is the best way to go. If people knew everything everyone said or did behind their back, we'd all go crazy. 

This leads me to my personal Rachel-story. My boyfriend and I had broken up, and a couple weeks later he starts communicating with me again. Against my better judgement, I ask if anything happened while we were broken up. Huge mistake. Not only was I pissed (over a guy who turned out to be a total jerk), but I was better off never even letting him back into my life again. Call me crazy, but some things are better off not known.

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

9. Stand Up For What You Believe In.

The idea for this post just came to me while watching the newest episode of Glee online last night, "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle". Not only was the episode great, but Quinn FINALLY stood up against Sue and traded in her Cheerios uniform to be a permanent member of Glee. Although it took some convincing from Finn in order for her to finally make this decision, she left Sue without any cheerleaders at the competition. We should all learn from this glorious Glee moment: Even though it was hard, Quinn quit the Cheerios because she knew it was the right thing to do. We all have a little Quinn in us, and sometimes it's easier to just go along with what's wrong than stand up for what's right. To watch the newest episode and see how Quinn abandons Sue, click here:  http://www.fox.com/glee/full-episodes/775265081001

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

8. Whatever You Are, Be a Good One.

I love this saying. Not only because it applies to Glee, but because it's true. One time I heard someone say, "Never just waffle through life, put your all into it." And it's true. Don't be a waffle-er. Put your best into anything, and more likely than not, you'll see great results.

I never thought I would say this, but Sue Sylvester is a prime example of a non-waffle-er. Sure, she's a bully, but she's a great one. Beyond that, she's a great Cheerios coach. Why? Because she puts her all into coaching, she lives and breathes it. This may be one of the only positive lessons we can learn from Sue, but it's a good one.

                                          Sue doing what she does best.

7. Unlikely Friendships Can Be the Best Ones

We all have had that friend that we never expected to meet. For me, it is my friend Paige. We met my first year in high school. Her family owns a funeral home in our town, and they live on the top floor of it. Everyone thought it was creepy, but when I met Paige on our summer swim team, we immediately became friends. I ignored everyone's comments about how weird her home would be, and I decided to figure it out for myself. When I spent the night at her house (AKA the funeral home), it was so much fun. It actually wasn't creepy at all. This goes to show that even though people had a misconception about this girl due to her home being different than the norm, she was actually a really great person.

In Glee terms, we all know that there are several unlikely friendships that take place at McKinley High. My personal favorite is Finn and Artie. Their friendship blossomed in Season 1 when Artie was being tossed into the school's dumpster by Puck and other bullies, and Finn stood up for him. Now they're not only step-brothers (which I love!), but they're good friends. This unlikely friendship is wonderful, and it proves that even the most unlikely people can become your greatest friends.

You Are Your Own Worst Enemy

6. This one goes out for the Rachel Berry's of the world. She's crazy, obsessive, and a perfectionist. She's my favorite character for many reasons, but it's her obsessive behavior that makes me love her the most. Aren't we all a little crazy in our own ways? The point is, Rachel pushes herself so hard because she is her biggest critic. Meanwhile, all of her friends tell her to calm down and relax, but that only makes her work harder. What is the lesson to be learned from Miss. Berry's crazy behavior? Relax a little. Not everyone is judging you like you think they are. And when you mess up, chances are that you notice it more than anyone else around you. Nobody is perfect, not even Rachel Berry.

Life Lesson I've Learned from Glee

5. Don't Let a Bully Bring You Down.

It happens to the best of us: mean girls. And in some cases, I've encountered girls meaner than Sue Sylvester on her cruelest day (and that says a alot). But like Kurt and Rachel, you have to stay strong against the meanest people. Here is my tribute to McKinley High's best bully:

To watch the episode 'Furt', which shows bullying at its worst, click here: http://www.fox.com/glee/full-episodes/682670908001