Top 10 Quotes from Grey's Anatomy (UC Berkeley Edition)

I know there's probably a dozens of those out there since Grey's Anatomy is such a cultural phenomenon. But, this is my version from an Asian kid in UC Berkeley. So bear with me.

I actually wasn't a Grey's Anatomy fan, probably still isn't, because I'm not really a fan of a bunch of people just hooking up with each other like every episode and somehow they were all in love with each other at some point. It just seemed a little too melodramatic to me. But, I recently went back to binge Grey's and while I'm still not a fan of the romance, you can't help but fall in love with the characters. They are such real people. You relate to all of them - their struggles, imperfections, views on life. I'm not going into med, but any sort of professional field all share the same type of struggle and hardship. So, after my binge, here's a compilation of my top 10 quotes from Grey's Anatomy. Hope it helps you get through the rough days in life as it did for me. :)

1. "Don’t let what he wants eclipse what you need. He's very dreamy, but he is not the sun. You are." - Cristina Yang

This quote never stops giving me goosebumps. To the people out there who feel extraordinary burdens or responsibilities to live for someone, it's okay to know that you are the center of YOUR world. It's especially easy to get lost in college because you're not with your family, you're not with people you're familiar with, but once in a while, check with yourself and remind yourself that you are the sun. Don't let what anyone wants eclipse what you need.

2. "Reality. It’s so much more interesting than living happily ever after." - Meredith Grey

It really is. It sucks most of the time, but at least you know it's true. And it's real. We live for reality because it is tangible. We are not tricked, even in our worst moments.

3. "I am woman. Hear me roar." - Miranda Bailey

'Nuff said. Miranda Bailey throws one-liners out there that just makes your heart roars.

4. "We do our very best, but sometimes it's just not good enough. We buckle our seat belts, we wear a helmet, we stick to the lighted paths, we try to be safe. We try so hard to protect ourselves, but it doesn't make a damn bit of difference. Cause when the bad things come, they come out of nowhere. The bad things come suddenly, with no warning. But we forget that sometimes that's how the good things come too." - Meredith Grey

Shit happens. And it's true. The harsh truth is that sometimes we're not good enough. But it all comes down to how much more you wanna work for it even knowing you're not good enough.

5. "You can have the worst crap in the world happen to you and you can get over it. All you gotta do is survive." - Alex Karev

I've always had this saying in my back pocket. "You can stay broken and ask 'what's the point.' Or you can pick up the broken pieces and ask 'what's next.'" Also, Alex probably took the most crap out of all the characters, and all these characters went through a little too much trauma, so that's saying a lot, and if he can make it out alive, you can too.

6. "If I murdered someone, she's the person I'd call to help me drag the corpse across the living room floor." - Cristina Yang

Ugh, I miss my best friend. That's it.

7. "It doesn't matter how tough we are. Trauma always leaves a scar. It follows us home, it changes our lives. Trauma messes everybody up. But maybe that's the point. All the pain and the fear and the crap. Maybe going through all that is what keeps us moving forward. It's what pushes us. Maybe we have to get a little messed up, before we can step up." - Alex Karev

Trauma does. I always thought we could recover. But trauma changes us. I learned this the hard way. And if it does, it's okay. At our core, we're still who we are. We just see this world a little more differently.

8. "I am a 28-year-old virgin. Mainly because I wanted my first time to be special and then I waited too long and partially because I’m pretty sure guys find me annoying. I’m a virgin! That doesn’t make it drinks conversation! We all have stuff we don’t talk about!" - April Kepner

My favorite character has always been April since the start, and I know that was a strange thing because she was quite an annoying character. But I guess I like her because she is relentlessly herself. She is annoying with her high pitch voice and her goody two shoes personality. But, she's unapologetic about it. That's a quality I certainly lack. Besides, she's an amazing character now, and it seems like the fandom agrees with me. :) This quote was also when I really really got to love April Kepner. We all have things we don't want to talk about, and that's okay. Not everyone's life got to be broadcasted for the world to see.

9.  "Sometimes the future changes quickly and completely and we’re left with only the choice of what to do next. We can choose to be afraid of it, to stand there trembling, not moving, assuming the worst that can happen or we can step forward into the unknown and assume it will be brilliant." - Cristina Yang

I never had the guts to settle down. Every time I feel like this is going according to plan, something goes wrong, and the future I envisioned is completely wasted. And that's emotionally taxing. Ask anyone who's gotten their heart trampled over. But, we live for the future, and we just need to learn how to readjust quickly. Maybe one day I'll learn how to settle down knowing that the future is so unpredictable.

10. "When we say things like "People don't change" it drives scientists crazy. Because change is literally the only constant in all of science." - Meredith Grey

Always count on Meredith Grey with the best lines. Change IS the only constant in the world. I hate change, and I'm still trying my darnest to get used to it.

One thing I really like and even admire about Grey's Anatomy is that every character is different and real. They're not an archetype of some sort; they're not serving one part of the story. They are their own story. That's good writing. Really successful writing. Every character is just a human being. That's something to take away as a writer.

As Grimmie sings, With Love,

ROS