“The Office” is one of those shows on Netflix that sucks you into a vortex of innumerable hours in your dorm, watching episode after episode when you should be doing schoolwork. Every college kid has that one show that forces them into weeks of antisocial behavior until all of the seasons are completed, whether it’s “Breaking Bad”, “Dexter” or the most recently obsessed over, “Game of Thrones.”
Although wonderfully comedic and a great distraction from the stress of school, “The Office” slips in quite a bit of life lessons in the nine seasons I blew through on Netflix. I must say, my grades are in debt to the show for only being around 20 minutes long…
1) Be yourself.
Dwight has to be the weirdest, craziest and altogether oddest character on the show, but you can’t help but love him. He is so confident in himself, and embraces all the “flaws” he has. The way that Dwight holds himself, no matter what the situation, or who doesn’t like him, is something we all should follow. We all have parts of ourselves we don’t like for people to see. But there are always going to be people that love you for you, no matter how much of an oddball you are.
2) The best relationships blossom from friendship.
JIM + PAM 4EVER. The most successful and loving relationships come from a foundation of friendship; you want to be dating (or married, I should say) to your best friend. Lust and sex appeal eventually fade. So does the mystery, and “honeymoon phase” of each relationship. To be with your best friend is to be with someone who will love you and support you no matter what because they love the person you are deep down to the core.
3) Take chances.
Jim took a chance on Pam. Jim took a chance on a new career. Jim is not only the cutest dork I’ve ever laid eyes on, but also quite a bit of a risk taker on the show. He put it all on the line, and followed his heart in the hopes of getting what he knew he wanted out of life. Guess who got the girl, the perfect family and the successful career in the end?
4) Find a career that’s right for you.
If I took anything from this show, it’s that a nine-to-five office job at a paper supply company is not for everyone. Quite honestly, I think my soul would be sucked dry in an environment like that, and I would probably become a Stanley. Find a job that you love and truly enjoy, and then it won’t feel like work. As a general rule of thumb: Be as in love with your job as Michael Scott is with Dunder Mifflin.
