The Impact Of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why

Being a teenager can be hard.

Show’s like Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why reminds me just how much I don’t miss the sometimes complicated and emotionally tumultuous time of being a teenager.

The series is now in its third season and if you’re not familiar with the show, it begins with the story of a young, bright, and beautiful teenager named Hannah Baker, with a promising future, whose life was tragically cut short after she committed suicide after being bullied, assaulted, and ostracized by her peers. Before her death, she records her story and her interactions with her peers, via cassette tapes, with each tape leaving clues and startling and sometimes heartbreaking revelations about everything she has gone through and different troubling situations that a number of her peers have been involved in and stayed silent about.

Though controversial, it’s hard to ignore the impact the series has left on the culture and the spotlight it’s exposed on the sometimes harsh realities of what it’s like being a teenager in today’s world.

What kind of war zones are our youth up against these days and how can we keep them safe?

When I was a teenager and went through moments of humiliation or bullying or rumors or a falling out with friends, things usually went no further than awkward silences, some staredowns, and a few empty threats.

Today’s teens are often not as fortunate.

They’re up under a lot of stress, anxiety, and peer pressure. They also have the internet and social media at their fingertips via smartphones, so, unfortunately, humiliating and sometimes dangerous and scarring incidents are snapped, recorded, reposted, and shared at unbelievable rates. 13 Reasons Why shows just how quickly things can become escalated, exploited, misunderstood, and sadly have tragic consequences for all parties involved.

I believe this series has gone far beyond just having a conversation about bullying, but has additionally brought viewers into the deep, dark, and complicated world of what it can be like being a teenager not only trying to thrive in that space but to survive in it too. 13 Reasons Why is important and I hope it continues to speak to more and more people as the series (which is anticipated to go up to four seasons) unfolds.

A Year Of Being Ghosted

Ghosting: the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. I’ve been ghosted by every guy I’ve met within the past two years. About six to be exact. · The first guy pursued me and then got shady whenever I asked him about what he did for a living and where he lived. When he started dodging and avoiding questions, wouldn’t initiate dates, and slowly stopped keeping in touch with me altogether, eventually, all communication ceased. · The second guy was someone I met through a family member. He was super cool, very smart, handsome, and funny, but didn’t want to be in a relationship and acted like he didn’t want to be seen with me publicly. When we had plans to meet for an outing, he didn’t show up, and then texted me about a week later with an apology. We chilled at my place a few times, had a few phone conversations, and exchanged occasional texts, but eventually he stopped responding to me

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken things too far

Teacher Table Talk: When Parents Attack

As an English teacher, a core belief I’ve held close since the beginning of my career has been the importance of relationship building. I believe that if great relationships between teachers, students, and parents are established at the beginning of the school year, everything else will fall into place. Authentically modeling, practicing, and establishing mutually respectful and professional relationships within my classroom has been the bridge for effective communication, solid classroom management, and creating a safe and effective learning environment that fits each of my student’s needs. And though I’ve seen and experienced the benefits of great relationship building, unfortunately, there have been times when some students and parents have not been receptive or interested in my efforts to establish connections that would best serve all parties involved. I’ve also noticed and shared spaces with other educators, school counselors, and administrators who’ve experienced the same. And

Making Waves