From 'Friday Night Lights' to 'The O.C': How 8 TV Shows Portrayed the First Day of School

Episode: "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

Watch it if: You're going to a new school and you're not sure where you'll fit in.

Why: Being a slayer makes it hard fitting into a new school, especially if you accidentally burned down your old one. Even if you're clearly cheerleader material like Buffy, sometimes it's hard to fit in. But hey, Buffy slays vampires for a living and even she found friends — don't worry, you'll find your own Scooby Gang in no time.

Episode: "The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton"

Watch it if: It's your first time going to a rich, stuffy private school.

Why: Private school is weird. Even if your school doesn't have a strict dress code (so it's cool if your mom has a meeting in cowboy boots and a tie-dye shirt), the wealth disparity and the pervasive competitive spirit are kind of jarring. But hey, who knows — maybe just like Rory, some of your fiercest competitors with become some of your closest friends.

Episode: "Back 2 School"

Watch it if: It's your first day of high school.

Why: The bullies at your school probably don't look like the Fonz, but you should try to stay away from them all the same. And your older sibling probably won't go to great lengths to make you a guide and ignore you at school, but you shouldn't take everything they say to heart anyways. High school can be stressful and confusing, but at the end of the day, everything is fine (even if it may not always seem that way). And even if it's not, just watch an episode of Boy Meets World, where there's more than enough happy endings to go around.

Episode: "Pilot"

Watch it if: You lost all your friends last year.

Why: Going to school is great, because it's an easy place to see your friends every day. Going to school is also terrible, because when your friends stop being your friends, you still have to see them every day. Veronica Mars showed us that even if your best friend is murdered, and your dad accuses your boyfriend's dad of doing it, and you get mysteriously date-raped at a party with all your friends that turned against you after your dad's accusation, you can still find a few good people to hang out with. Or you can just be grateful for not having this much drama at your school.

Episode: "Esteemers"

Watch it if: You hate pretty much everyone at your school.

Why: Most high school shows have protagonists that are "different" in some way, but try to fit in. Daria realized on her first day of school at Lawndale that she didn't fit in, so instead of trying to make people understand her, she had fun with them. It may not be a warm, fuzzy message, but it's a true one — don't waste your time with people who'll never understand you. Yeah, the school psychiatrist may think you're insane, but you'll make some real friends along the way.

Episode: "I Knew You When"

Watch it if: You've got a new job at your old school.

Why: Friday Night Lights was a great show that took teen drama seriously, but it was also a show that dealt with adult drama just as realistically. Although Tami always knows best, she found it difficult to navigate school politics when she moved up to Vice Principal at Dillon High School. School politics might be complicated, but hey — at least you aren't your husband's boss. Now that's complicated.

Episode: "Prototype"

Watch it if: You're just starting college.

Why: Undeclared was short-lived, but it's the definitive show for the college experience. Its first episode covers all the culture shocks that come with starting college: having confusing one night stands, trying to redefine yourself to your new friends, and finally seeing your parents as people. Sure, the floor parties in real college may not be as wild, but it's pretty on-point.

Episode: "The Avengers"

Watch it if: Your college plans didn't exactly turn out as you'd hoped.

Why: Because most likely, they won't, and that's hard to deal with. But you're not alone: Summer is attending Brown after having no plans to go, Seth isn't even going to college,Taylor is pretending to be in France, and Ryan is living at the Cohen's instead of going to school for architecture. Oh yeah, and they're all dealing with Marissa's death. Things in life hardly ever go as planned, and that's hard to deal with. But for the O.C. gang (and for you), a change in plans can sometimes change you for the better.