I’ll be there for you

FICTIONAL CHARACTERS INSPIRE US IN THE SAME WAY AS OFF-SCREEN ROLE MODELS.

By Mason Braasch, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Sammy Meyerson

When it comes to television, I tend to be picky about what shows I watch. No matter how many suggestions I get from friends and family, I always find myself watching and rewatching the same set of shows. I used to think that this was because I had a horrible taste in television shows — and maybe I do — but lately, I’ve come to recognize a pattern among all of my favorites. Every show that I watch has a character or plotline that I idolize or relate to. The shows that pull me back time and time again are the ones that make me feel seen, resonate with my past and spark goals for my future. The first show that I fell in love with was “Friends.” I know, I know — it is one of the most overwatched and overrated shows of all time — but stick with me. I have watched “Friends” over and over and can quote almost any episode. Sometimes I will put it on simply for background noise while I am working. There are a million quizzes on the internet that tell you which character you are most like (I am most definitely Monica), but what really pulls me into “Friends” isn’t one singular character — it is the camaraderie among all the characters. Discovering a group of close-knit friends that you can count on through thick and thin is not always an easy thing to achieve during your middle school, high school or even college years. “Friends” was comforting because it showed me that having a group of friends who love and support you is something to work toward, and something that is worth the wait. Now that I have found my group of forever-friends who always remember to tell me, “I’ll be there for you,” I don’t watch the show with the same sense of hope and longing that I once did. Still, it is nice to know that the characters that once brought me comfort will always be there, “When the rain starts to pour.” Over the years, I’ve found many more characters that I relate to. My list of TV inspirations has grown to include characters with my dream jobs, dream relationships, and ideal self; but “Friends” has always been in constant rotation and will continue to stay there. “Watching the show over again not only reminds me of what I have gone through, but makes me excited to think about all the new friendships and memories to come.

Finding inspiration in your everyday life is important, and while it’s definitely necessary to find inspiration in real people, sometimes seeing yourself, or even your ideal self, represented on screen is just as significant. Characters on the screen and the plotlines that they live through can help you envision your future, inspire your day-to-day routine and navigate tough seasons of life. Find your characters, and you find yourself. There are no limits to the world of stories on TV, in movies or in books. Seeing is believing, and it can help you feel a little less alone. ■