As a freshman in my first semester of college, nothing hits closer to home than Grown-ish, a spinoff to ABC’s hit sitcom Black-ish. Set in the fictional California University, the show follows Zoey Johnson (Yara Shahidi) as she ventures off to her first semester in college. Each episode tackles topical things we experience as college students, including drug use, hookups and the pressure to perform well academically. What makes Grown-ish stand out from other shows about is that it steps away from cliché college shows and addresses issues that truly matter, such as racial and political tensions on college campuses, to name a few.
*****WARNING: Spoilers ahead!*****
Finding Yourself
Zoey spends her first few weeks of the semester finding her “thing” and immediately realizes that no one has their sh*t together in college. In the episode “Late Registration,” she confesses that she abandoned her new friend Ana, who vomited in the kiddie pool after drinking too much. Zoey claims that it was unlike her to do something like that to a friend, and only did it so she wouldn’t seem “uncool” in front of everyone. She immediately regretted her actions and eventually made up with Ana after a heart to heart on how lost they both felt for being so far away from the comforts of home for the first time. Sound familiar?
The Hookup Culture
In most college campuses, the “real fun” begins after the parties have ended. Anyone living in residential housing knows that dorms are a minefield for hookups, and it’s almost impossible the avoid it altogether. In the episode “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late,” Zoey agonizes over a “U up?” text she received from a crush and gathers her friends to decipher what it meant. They all contemplate on what a “hookup” actually means (sex or just making out?) and whether or not it’s a bad thing to be seen as simply a hookup on a Friday night. To anyone who’s had this conversation with their friends, it doesn’t get more relatable than this!
Drug Use
Grown-ish doesn’t shy away from talking about more controversial issues, and drug use is definitely one of them. Drugs have become ubiquitous in college campuses, and many college-aged young adults are at risk for addiction. The episode “B*tch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” revolves solely around drug use, which started when Vivek gave Zoey adderall in order to finish her paper on Ruth Bader Ginsburg after a night of procrastinating. After being adamantly against it, she eventually caves in and experiences her first “addy spiral” by spending $3000 on online shopping. She finds herself becoming more reliant to it, as the episode ends with her taking another pill in order to complete her assignment. The combination of stress, curiosity and peer pressure definitely makes us more vulnerable to drug use, and it’s up to us to know our limit and when to stay away.
Being Broke
The one universal truth about college is the fact that it’s expensive and everyone around us is just as broke as we are. Okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true for some of us. Vivek, a child of Indian immigrants, relies on his side hustle as a drug dealer in order to support himself through college. In the episode “Cashin’ Out,” twin track stars Jazz and Sky started selling their track gear in order to pay for personal expenses, since they are unable to work between classes and track practice. The expensive cost of college can hinder us from living the full college experience and it’s important to acknowledge that.
The Power of Friendships
If there’s one thing that will keep you grounded in college, it’s surrounding yourself with amazing friends. Sure, there may be bumps along the road, but the best thing to do is sit down and talk it out with each other.