Meeting the cast of ‘Never Have I Ever’ was like catching up with old friends
Never Have I Ever met the stars of one of my favorite Netflix shows. Not in person, anyway. At first, the thought of interviewing the cast online made me feel like a new student barging into uncharted territory.
And I don’t mean anything close to Season 2’s new girl Aneesa (Megan Suri), the object of Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan)’s envy.
For me, this feel-good show was love at first episode. It’s light, yet able to tug at the heartstrings by effortlessly touching on deeper issues involving family, friends, love, and loss. And the characters? They remind me of myself and the friends I grew up with.
I’ve seen the interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, their Instagrams. They were a tight cast: that friend group in high school you didn’t really want to sit with because of the fear of being left out. But being on a 10-minute call with them was anything but stressful.
I came into the interview with questions prepared, hoping to get answers interesting enough for a good feature — from what advice their characters would give their younger selves, to their lessons on love, to words of wisdom for those afraid of life after school, I wanted to get assurance for those younger than me that growing up doesn’t have to be so scary.
Instead, I got more than I had hoped for: I was transported to a high school reunion I didn’t know I needed.
What they shared didn’t just resonate with my younger self and what I wish I had known then; everything was still all too relatable, even for a 20-something-year-old now.
“Opening up is scary… You might get hurt, but it’s okay, you’ll grow from it.” —Jaren Lewison (Ben Gross)
Hitting the quarter-life mark has had me feeling lost way more times than I’d like to admit. I look around on social media and see friends getting their post-grad degrees, hard-earned promotions at work, or even starting their own families, and I think to myself: what is something I’ve done that’s worth being proud of?
Deciding to resign from my first job made me so scared to leave its comforts. But when I did, I saw that the doors that were held open for me before led me to even more places I didn’t think I’d reach. Of course, not all of them were as good as I’d hoped for them to be, but my experience has taught me to believe in myself and stand up for myself more — and I think that’s worth something.
“Focus on yourself: take care of yourself, be kind to yourself.” —Lee Rodriguez (Fabiola Torres)
Navigating through life in love, even — or most especially — at this age, can be tricky. Whether it’s because of societal pressures that tell us our 20s is the prime time for marriage or a ticking biological clock, I can’t help but feel a bit envious of peers in happy and healthy relationships; or maybe even a bit troubled by how I’m nowhere near there yet.
Thankfully, time has made me a firm believer in putting myself first. Not being guilty when I give myself time is a great, but difficult, first step, and I can’t wait for the day when putting myself first becomes a no-brainer.
“Learn how to love yourself first. Once you love yourself, you can figure out what you’re looking for.” —Ramona Young (Eleanor Wong)
It’s still a challenge for me to give myself credit for the good things that come my way. Sometimes, I still have doubts in my abilities, but I’m slowly learning to be kinder to myself and believe in myself more — always with the hope that things will somehow fall into place.
When opportunities I didn’t even know I was looking for land in my lap, I oftentimes attribute it to good luck. But perhaps I should let myself believe that maybe I might’ve just had a little something to do with it all along.
“Stop rushing: everything comes soon enough. You’re right where you are supposed to be.” —Darren Barnet (Paxton Hall-Yoshida)
Darren’s advice is a perfect and comforting reminder: it makes us never forget to trust in the timing of life. When I felt most lost in my career, my seemingly sudden leap into a brand-new industry didn’t just give me a space to find my voice; it also helped me find myself.
Clichéd as it may sound, what we have now may have been the things we had hoped for before — or at the very least, they’re what will get us there.
“It’s a new season of your own show where you’re the main character.” —Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (Devi Vishwakumar)
It’s funny how even while in the middle of an existential crisis as a 20-something-year-old, Never Have I Ever, a show about high school life, can still be relatable. Change and making big moves seem to be the second season’s central themes, and no matter where we are in life, change is something we can never let go of.
“So try not to fear the unknown, but rather, do your best to embrace it,” adds Maitreyi. Because as we grow, we change. And while change can be scary, it can be exciting, too.
“Be more confident; own who you are. It’s cool to be who you are.” —Megan Suri (Aneesa Qureshi)
No matter how old you are or what stage in life you’re in, learning and growth are inevitable. Getting lost and making mistakes along the way are okay because they make us stronger and wiser.
We never really move on from and let go of what we learn — we take them with us always. Whether it’s through relationships, experiences or even things you pick up from others, everything you’ve gone through is what makes you “you.” And that’s something you should be proud of.
The advice and thoughts shared were just as comforting as watching episode after episode of the show. Season 2 takes you back to your younger years, where you might just see a little of yourself in some of the characters. Your only hope is for them to succeed, because you wish the same for yourself, too. And I know for sure that the latest season of Never Have I Ever can still teach us all a thing or two — even the 20-something-year-olds among us.