So, a few weeks ago, I finished watching one of my TV shows, ever. Seeing as RuPaul’s Drag Race is still running (and it’s getting good with only three girls left!), I’m talking about Will and Grace. Now, I’m not a huge television person, as I don’t have extended cable back in Boston, and I rarely watch TV. However, I started watching WIll and Grace from the beginning starting my freshmen year at Hopkins. In short, the series is tied in with memories of Hopkins.

Now, why did I love the show so much? Well, for one, it’s one of the few shows that can always cheer me up. I could be in the worst mood after doing horribly on an exam, but a simple episode of Will and Grace will change my mood completely. I’ll be extra chipper after simply watching an episode, laughing at the majority of the quick remarks made, understanding most of the subtle jokes that are targeted towards the LGBT community. It’s a show that lasted for a long time, and in my opinion, could have gone on longer than it did. However, the last season got me, in particular the last episode. I don’t know why, but as I was watching the show, tears were streaming down my face. I didn’t know if I could continue watching it after the first 5 minutes. It’s not that the finale was sad though, which was odd, considering how many boxes of tissues I had to go through while watching. I think that the reason I was so sad was that while it was an ending of an excellent show, it was also the ending of a very important part of my life.

Will & Grace sometimes gets a bad rep for misrepresenting the LGBT community, providing very blatant stereotypes. I can see where that argument is coming from, however, one must remember that it is primarily a comedy, and comedies often fall on stereotypes for jokes. Why’s that? Well, because they’re often blatantly true. I know many gay friends who fit into the roles of the different characters, as well as those who support the gay community. On the other side of the argument, I personally believe this show is one of the greatest assets the LGBT community has. Not only was it a success in the LGBT market, I know a ton of non-LGBT people who love the show. It promotes LGBT awareness, and opens people eyes. Plus, it helped a lot of people, including myself, come to terms with their sexuality. I wasn’t truly “out” when I began watching the show, and by the time I finished, I was openly gay. Even though the characters are fictional, they’re so real. I realized that being gay was just another part of my personality, of who I am, and that I shouldn’t necessarily hide it. The characters on the show are successful after all, regardless of their sexuality. They continue their life, regardless. I realized that just because I’m gay, that doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be successful, that I don’t have any potential. In fact, it’s the opposite, it adds character. And after coming out, I’ve definitely come out of my shell and my self-esteem has increased.

But back to why I was sad that Will and Grace ended. The show pretty much described my life. I see these stereotypes and live these situations daily. You might think, “Oh that was a very cleverly written script, but I can never picture that happening in real life.” But it does, and it happens a lot. Back in Boston, I have a core group of friends. It consists of my friends Stephen, Christina, Liz, and I, and in a sense, we’re Will, Grace, Karen, and Jack. It’s not something we planned either, we were like that for as long as I can remember. It just fit perfectly.

However, the finale did end on a sad note. In it, Will and Grace drift apart with their respective families, and don’t see each other for a good twenty years. This part in particular really made me sad. Why? I didn’t want this to happen with my friends and I, particularly Christina and I. We’re so close, that when I went home this past weekend, she was looking forward to it for weeks. We had a blast that night, and I was so glad we could see each other. However, as time moves on, people do drift apart. I really just didn’t want that to happen with us. I brought this up to my group of friends, and Christina posted this remark, which really helped me with the thought:

“Anyway, just like everyone always says, you lose touch with most of your friends, but there are usually a few that will become your friends for life. If we haven’t managed to fall out of touch going to 4 different schools, being in different states (or countries), almost 3 years after graduation, then I’m not worried. I love you guys.”

And she’s right, and she calmed my nerves for sure. So, as you guys are preparing to decide on a college, don’t worry about distance from home, or how much you’ll miss your friends later. Cherish the moments you have together, you’ll have them for life.

Oh, and go watch some episodes of Will and Grace. You definitely won’t regret that decision.