Over the past few weeks with assistance from my good friend Netflix I have reconnected with my old time Canadian classic friends...Degrassi Jr. High and Degrassi High. It had been a long time since we had last seen each other but like any true friend we picked up where we left off and spent a good couple of weeks together until we said good bye again today after sharing one last moment together with its farewell special "Schools Out".
Now in reconnecting, I came to realize that Degrassi has taught me some very important things in my life, and in our brief re-encounter I learned, if not relearned some very paramount things...
1. Degrassi was the only school in T.V. history where all the beautiful people DIDN'T attend. All of the students were normal, regular, average, ordinary Canadian teenagers.
2. If you were too attractive or were getting too attractive your role didn't last very long - Jason & Stephanie from the Jr. High years
3. If you are a girl and you really want to dress up your look or try to look more mature for your age, blue eye shadow is the way to go!
4. Being called a Narbo or a Broom-Head were the worst insults that could be thrown at you in the halls of Degrassi.
5. When you have a band as awesome as the Zits (formerly The Zit Remedy) you only need one song -
Everybody Wants Something
6. No party is complete without the sweet sounds of
Gowan
7. No concert ever costs more than $20 and when there is a concert you can be sure most of Degrassi will be there!
8. Someone at Degrassi has had every problem EVER!
Drinking and Driving - Wheels (his parents were killed by one and he killed someone doing it in the finale special)
Pregnancy - Spike, Erica & Tessa
Teen Parents - Spike & Shane
Abortion - Erica & Tessa
Drug Abuse - Luke, Shane (who became brain damaged), Kathleen, Melanie, Diana, Yick
Underage Drinking - Pretty much all of them!
Alcoholism - Kathleen's mom
Anorexia - Kathleen
Abuse - Kathleen (by her boyfriend Scott - looking back this chick had it rough!)
HIV/AIDS - Dwayne
Suicide - Claude
Seizure Disorder - Caitlin
Stealing - Lucy
Absent Parents - Lucy
Over Protective Parents - Diana & Michelle
Adoption - Wheels
Teen Marriage - Alexa & Simon
Sexual Abuse - Liz
Interracial Relationships - Michelle & BLT
Homosexuality - Snakes (his brother)
Bullying - Dwayne & Joey
Cancer - L.D.
9. None of them learned how to swear until the School's Out finale special
10. When I was younger I totally thought junior high and high school was going to be like this with the same kinds of people and characters. I was sadly mistaken.
Now I know Degrassi was only a T.V. show but it was classic Canadian television that has been revamped for a new generation but can never be fully duplicated to the amazingness that it was back when it first aired on CBC. So thank you Degrassi for all of the life lessons you have given me and so many others and I look forward to seeing you again in the not so distant future. Until then stay awsomely 80's and truly one of a kind!
