Everything I Need to Know, I Learned From Rachel Berry

One of my closest friends in the wide world Heather made me borrow season one of Gleea few years ago, and little did I know she was about to change my life. I used to claim to hate Glee because, well…I don’t really know why. Why wouldn’t I assume I would love a show that had not only show tunes and a capella covers of popular songs, but drama, love, heart, serious issues, diversity, and really ridiculously good looking people? Why did I think that?!

But anywho, basically Rachel Berry is my obsession because I think she is the prettiest person I have ever seen, and also she (well, Lea Michele) has the best singing voice ever and I wish she sang all of the songs in the world and I could just play them on loop and anyway let’s just say that:

EINTKILF Rachel Berry

1. Being part of something special makes you special.
I’m not gonna front and pretend like I wasn’t well loved in high school, but I still have a huge soft spot for people who struggle with acceptance because, well…I am an A) biracial B) poor C) woman so like that’s almost all of the minorities. But I had a great high school experience and people have always liked me and I am nerdy but in an endearing way, so I never really dealt with “everyone hating me” or anything, but I feel like at the same time I really love people who have no friends because I just love the misunderstood.

Rachel: Look, I know I’m just a sophomore, but I can feel the clock ticking away and I don’t want to leave high school with nothing to show for it.
Will: You get great grades. You’re a fantastic singer.
Rachel: Everybody hates me.
Will: You think glee club is going to change that?
Rachel: Being great at something is going to change it. Being part of something special makes you special, right?

And yeah, I’m one of those girls who likes myself, so sorry that I am not going to pretend like everyone doesn’t love me right now. #nothumble

2. How to get a boy to fall in love with you.
There is nothing I love more than a little determination in a love story. Rachel was so in love with Finn from like day one and she totally fights for her man. And it pays off! Even though she almost never sacrifices who she is to get him to love her except for that one time when she plays sexed up Sandy from Grease and he doesn’t even like it because he just likes her for who she is because he’s a real man, darn it! (I like Finn Hudson types, like a bunch.)

Finn: When I first joined, I thought you were kind of insane. I mean, you talk a lot more than you should, and to be honest with you, I looked under the bed and made sure that you weren’t hanging out under there. But then, I heard you sing. I don’t know how to say this, but you touched something in me. Right here.

Rachel attracts Finn with her super dorkiness and her beautiful singing voice and duh, who wouldn’t fall for that? Don’t stop believin’, you guys. It’s a thing.

3. There is nothing ironic about show choir!

Nothing.

4. Singing is the best.
I mean, like I said before, I could literally listen to Lea Michele sing the phone book and be content with my life.

Have you heard her “Being Good”? Okay, listen to it and try not to like…sob yourself to sleep.

5. Take risks.
You know when Rachel doesn’t get into NYADA, but then she invites Whoopi Goldberg to come see them sing at Nationals? Like who would even do that, right? And then of course she gets in to the school of her dreams. And then she goes there alone because Finn “breaks up with her” right before she gets on the train, and then even though Kurt ends up joining her in New York, she was totally ready to be on her own. 

AND her teacher Kate Hudson is super mean to her and she doesn’t give up. She is a risk taker, and I love her for it.

6. Don’t get married in freakin’ high school.
I guess this was kinda Finn’s call, but I mean, they were super ready to get married before Quinn got into that car accident because she was texting and driving and the wedding was postponed and if they had gone through with it, Rachel never would have dated super hot Brody. There are seven billion people in the world, you guys. You don’t have to marry your high school sweetheart in high school.

(Though I’m obviously #teamfinchel)

7. How to have a break-up.
Arguably my favorite scene in Glee history came from an otherwise lackluster season this past year. When Finn finally gets his ish together (well, not really) and goes to see his lady in New York, he gets all crazy about her relationship with Brody because they have super sexy musical chemistry when they sing “Give Your Heart a Break” at that karaoke bar (even though I’m pretty sure college freshman aren’t allowed in bars, even in New York).

So it all comes out that Brody and Rachel kissed and anyway everyone and their mamas break up in this episode and it is pretty sad, but like…nothing is sadder than Rachel’s speech to Finn ever. And sure, maybe it reminds me of my own first relationship but I sob like a baby still. Get over it, Jess.

(I don’t get over stuff pretty much ever.)

8. BE YOURSELF.
Rachel’s idol is Barbra Streisand, and we all know Babs is quite the one-of-a-kind individual.

So is Rachel. So should you be.

9. Be unique.
I guess see above lesson because sometimes being yourself really is being unique like I feel like I am the same as everyone reading this article, but then again I have a lot of individual characteristics like my really great hair and ability to change it without caring, and like the Titanic thing, and um…my dad was a Black Panther? And I listen to rap music, and wear a lot of blush, and…I don’t know these things could all relate to a lot of people, but anyway, being yourself is important, even if that self is a kind of pretentious-center-of-attention kind of girl, you know? Just own it.

PS that was about Rachel, but I bet your bottom dollar you could find a few people who would call me both pretentious and center-of-attention-y, and I’m not even saying they are wrong.

10. How to duet.
Every Rachel duet is perfection. I am honestly torn on which are my favorite duets: Rachel and Finn, Rachel and her mom, Rachel and Kurt? I don’t even care, everything she duets is gold.

Though Rachel and Blaine miiiiiight be my favorite.

Why was I not born a singer? I forget.

Featured image via fanpop, Swan Song image via beingrachelberry, Heart a Break image via gleewikia, glee club image via salon,