13 Reasons Why You Need to Hold On

I spent the long weekend binge watching Netflix. 13 Reasons Why has been making a buzz on my Facebook feed so I decided to watch the series myself. If you're a sucker for a tear-jerker coming of age movies, then this series is right for you. It's like watching The Perks of Being a Wallflower or The Breakfast Club all over again with its nostalgic indie and 80's music, colourful characters and lots of teenage drama. Only this time, more relevant issues are depicted to resonate the present problems and pressures in the lives of the young.

The story evolves around the death of Hannah Baker who committed suicide. Before she ended her life, she made tape records narrating the people, events, and reasons that led to her fateful death. Every character will remind the viewers of someone they know and perhaps even their own young selves. Watching it with a perspective of a thirty-year-old adult, I found myself trivializing some scenarios in the plot but at the same time relating to each of them. After all, I was young once too and just like Hannah, there was a point when I felt like high school is the be all and end all of things. Had this story happened in real life, I wished I could've told Hannah that while she has 13 reasons to quit, there are other 13 reasons, maybe more, to hold on and keep going.

I made this list for the young people who think that the whole world is against their odds. May you find opportunity in every failure, and lesson in every disappointment. Life is never fair but it doesn't mean it's not worth living. Please read on.

1. High school is not the end all and be all of your life

I tell you this, there's more to life after high school. College is exciting and liberating with many friends to meet and new things to learn so is with your career, relationships, marriage and family life. High school is not even a quarter of the length of your whole existence.

2. You will make a lot of friends in your lifetime

And they will be the solid kind of friendships who will accept you and love you no matter what. I never met my best girlfriends until I started working.

3. Things will always get better

It's true that when you hit rock bottom, the only way is up. Every failure, disappointment, and mistake that pulled you down is your springboard to help you bounce back stronger and better.

4. There are people who truly and unconditionally love you

You have your family, parents, siblings and friends or anyone whose life you have touched that loves you.

5. The world is better with you around

Because you will always have the potential to create a positive change in the world if you choose to.

6. There's a lid for every pot

If you're searching for love or have been heartbroken for so many times, have faith. Believe that someone is out there looking exactly for a person like you.

7. A lot of people is praying to be in your shoes

There are millions of ill people whose days are numbered and wouldn't want anything except a few more days, months and years to live. Your life itself is a gift, don't waste it.

8. Life has unlimited chances if you don't quit

The good thing about being alive is knowing that each day is a chance to start anew. Cliche as it may sound, tomorrow is another day for a fresh start.

9. Someday, you will find yourself thankful to be alive

When all your problems are over and you finally find your way smoothly sailing through life, you will be grateful that you didn't give up even if things were falling apart. You'll have a renewed sense of purpose and strength in overcoming life's hardest obstacles.

10. Life is a gift with endless surprises

Remember what Forrest Gump said about life, chocolates and surprises? It's all true. Sometimes things don't go our way to lead us to better situations. Stay alive and brace yourself for life's greatest surprises.

11. There are people who need you

And the world in general. They need your time, your talent and your compassion.

12. There are tiny blessings everywhere

No matter how bad your situation is right now, I'm pretty sure that there are million little things that you should be thankful for, you just have to look a little closer. As mundane as it may be, things like good food on the table, a help from a stranger, good music on the radio, a big scoop of ice cream or a dog are some of life's healing balm for our wounded soul. Look around, you are blessed more than you know.

13. You're here for a reason

The universe has its way of connecting people. It's the circle of life, butterfly effect, or whatever you want to call it. We're like tiny parts of a machine working together to make sense of life and all its mysteries. You are where you are right now to serve a purpose. The most successful people that we know have gone through setbacks and difficulties in life. They never quit, they thrive and succeed. In the end, their life stories become inspiration and testament of perseverance and tenacity in beating all odds and winning.