Sometimes we make it and sometimes we fake it. Aside from the fact that I was jealous she got to be in a music video with Aaron Carter, Lizzie McGuire was my icon. While she taught me that it's important to be yourself and to never try to be anyone else — something that initially went over my head, considering I tried to be just like her for years — Lizzie mostly taught me lessons about friendship.
On more than one occasion, Lizzie experimented with being popular and pretending to be someone she wasn't, but she ultimately learned to embrace her interests and stick by the friends that were always there for her. She also taught me that it's OK to call out your friends when it's necessary and that sometimes it's OK to stop being friends altogether. It's just part of growing up. Most importantly, Lizzie taught me that you have your whole life to decide who you want to be, and in the meantime, the best thing you can do is just try to be a good person.