13 Reasons Why is a Netflix original series consisting of thirteen, one-hour episodes. The premise follows a teenage boy (Clay) who tries to navigate the disorienting experience of losing a friend (Hannah) to suicide. Clay’s wandering takes a sharp turn when a mysterious collection of audio tapes appears on his front doorstep. On the tapes, Clay discovers a recording of Hannah providing her listeners with thirteen reasons why she committed her act of self-violence.
I relish stories that make me evaluate my understanding of something. 13 Reasons Why triumphs in this regard by fleshing out several aspects revolving around suicide. One aspect that caught my attention is the feeling of powerlessness exhibited not just from Hannah but from her “bullies” as well. It has been a notion of mine that feeling powerless can drive someone to search for weaker individuals. He or she then proceeds to bully them as a way of obtaining a sense of power or control. Watching this concept played throughout the series was thought-provoking.
An aspect portrayed that was more novel to me was the concept of allotting guilt. Watching the characters decide who’s truly at fault is a motif in almost every episode. Throughout the audio tape recordings, Hannah calls out individuals she accuses of driving her towards suicide. Consisting primarily of her high school classmates, these individuals quarrel among each other, some somberly acknowledge their contribution, while others deny even a shred of liability. There is a particular idea presented in the show that left me in deep contemplation. A few characters, “friends” and “enemies” alike, suggest to Hannah that part of the ridicule she receives might be attributed to poor decisions on her part. I have never contemplated the idea of a suicide victim having their own share of guilt; possibly by behaving in a manner, against better judgment, that escalates their desperate situation.
I’m grateful to the series for expanding my point-of-view.
Consuming junk food has always been my go-to method for overcoming life’s most demanding moments. This method has several advantages over other stress-relieving methods. First, it can be utilized anywhere and anytime, someone can keep snacks on their person otherwise, a vending machine or store is usually a short walk away. Second, gratification is felt immediately upon consumption. Third, junk food can be consumed while doing pretty much anything; studying for college exams was much more tolerable with a bag of chips. All-in-all, it is a very convenient method.
Although this lifestyle choice kept me in a jolly mood throughout my arduous journey toward medical school, I still had to deal with consequences, like being overweight. Also, as an aspiring medical doctor who is aware of our nation’s obesity problem, I cannot help but feel my cherished strategy conflicts with the goals of my future career.
Upon graduating from college three years ago, I began a weight loss journey and looked into different dietary regimens. Something I have come to hypothesize is that people experience varying degrees of joy from consuming junk food. I disagree with the quote: “a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.” If I have a candy bar in the morning, I will reminisce over its flavor well into the late evening. Also, substituting my snacks with healthy alternative did not make me feel “full-of-life” as several coaches claimed it would. Rather, I began feeling more irritable and experiencing a restlessness that kept me from focusing on projects I had in front of me. Perhaps my body is still adjusting to the healthier diet.
Due to my fondness for junk food, I believe I can empathize with people who are told by their doctors to change their unhealthy eating habits. I hope to discover helpful tips during my new endeavor so I can someday cater to patients who are struggling with managing their weight.
Take a moment to recognize that public libraries are amazing. For one, the library environment makes being productive is easy. In the library, you are surrounded by individuals who are working or building upon their knowledge. Also, the noise level is just right. It has enough ambient noise to keep you from feeling restless, but not too noisy to distract you from work.
During times when I feel I am being unproductive, a trip to the library will help me switch gears. This place of productivity has helped me throughout my high school and undergraduate careers. At times when I was overloaded with work and felt a desire to find a change of scenery from my room, the library always served well as a workplace away from home. The best are libraries that are open 24/7. The library at my university was open 24/7 and I took advantage of it, spending several seventeen-hour days.
Of course, libraries also have their astounding collection of books, magazines, movies, games, toys, all free for the public to use or borrow. History, autobiographies, novels, business, technology, health, computing, home development, listing off the different subjects as I explore the rows of shelves, I have to fight off a part of me that wants to collect an armful of books in an attempt to learn about every topic.
When my younger brother and I were kids, the library was a treasured place. Our father was a graduate student and my mom stayed at home to care for us, as such, we made our living expenses small. So imagine the excitement my brother and I had after walking into our public library and being told that we could pick any book, board game, puppet, video tape we wanted. It was during this time that I promised myself that I would someday contribute to my local public library in appreciation for the part mine had in my childhood.
MedStudent: Qmars Kvani 