Like any good ‘90s teen sitcom, Saved by the Bell was full of moral and life lessons in every episode, even if they weren’t as obvious as with other shows (Full House, we’re talking to you!)
While the series only ran for four years between 1989 and 1993, it has left its mark on pop culture, mostly due to the amazing chemistry between the main cast members, and the hilariously goofy yet relatable storylines.
The series even touched on some serious topics. But mostly, it was all in good fun, and mandatory viewing for anyone who was in high school at the time.
So what important life lessons can you still learn from the series?
A Real Friend Will Always Tell You The Hard Truths
The friends fought, sometimes stopped talking, and had their ups and downs. But in the end, they always stood up for one another, and wouldn’t shy away from telling one another the truth, even if that truth might hurt.
Case in point: when Zack, Screech, and Slater went to a bar (after getting fake IDs, of course) and spotted Kelly’s boyfriend Jeff there, dancing and flirting with someone who wasn’t Kelly. They told her, as much as it hurt them to do so. But it was the right thing to do.
Say No To Drugs
Of course who can forget that iconic “I’m so excited” scene where Jessie breaks down crying when she crashes from caffeine pills she was secretly taking to help her study for finals. She begins excitedly singing the Pointer Sisters hit, then bursts into tear admitting to Zack that she’s so scared.
This scene was oddly comical given the dramatic portrayal, but the life lesson was clear: drugs might seem like the right route to go to help you stay awake to study or feel better. But you should always say “no” to recreational drugs. And don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Be Financially Prudent
Lisa was the wealthy, snobby girl of the group, so when daddy gave her a credit card as a reward for getting good grades (really?) instead of frugally using it to treat herself to something special then keeping it in her back pocket for emergencies to show her father she could be trusted with such responsibility, she went on a shopping spree.
Then she realized that you have to actually pay for those things and scrambled to find a way to make the money to pay off the card. Lesson: work on saving more than spending. And don’t spend more than you have.
Sometimes Friendship Means Ragging On One Another
It used to be said that if a child was mean to another child, that meant they liked them. While that’s no way to show your love or admiration for another person, in some relationships, romantic or otherwise, sometimes trading jabs back and forth is part of the charm. As long as both parties are happy with the arrangement.
Look at Slater and Jessie from a romantic perspective, who traded insults just as much as they did lovey-dovey statements. And Zack and Slater seemed to be more like frenemies than BFFs, but it worked for them.
Never, Ever Date a Friend’s Ex
Maybe in shows like Beverley Hills, 90210, it was common for one girl or guy to date several others in the same clique. But in real life, this is definitely a life lesson everyone should learn: never go after your friend’s ex, or someone your friend is interested in.
We saw this mistake made several times in Saved by the Bell, like when Zack planted one on Lisa, who his best friend Screech was in love with, when Zack and Jessie thought they might have feelings for one another after having to kiss for a school play, or when Slater would pursue Kelly knowing full well that not only did Zack have an ongoing thing with her, but that Kelly was Jessie’s friend as well.
Don’t Forget Your Friends
In one episode, Zack’s band Zack Attack hits it big, and he lets the fame go to his head. He acts like a jerk to all of his friends, focusing on his fame, money, and girls.
It took Slater getting into an accident for Zack to wake up and realize what, and who, was really important in life. Never forget the people who mean the most to you and who have always been there for you, whether it’s to join a famous rock band, enter a new romantic relationship, make new friends, move away, or any other reason.
Be Accepting Of Others
There’s one episode where Zack agrees to go on a date with a girl he chats with on a teen helpline he created for the school. He discovers, once they meet, that this girl is in a wheelchair. And Zack goes on to ask the most inappropriate questions and do the most inappropriate things, like commenting that she was able to help someone on the teen line “even though she’s in a wheelchair,” demanding the cops are called on the person who parked in a handicapped spot at the movie theater and singling her out during a charity wheelchair basketball game as “the only one who has to be in the chair all the time.”
He later realizes what a jerk he was being, and how he should not have jumped to a misjudgment about her based on her being handicapped.
Stop to Think
In the fictional world of Saved by the Bell, Zack is actually able to invoke a "time out," completely stopping time and freezing everything around him so that he can take a moment to think about what he wants to do or say next, or how to get out of a jam.
In the real world, of course, we don’t have that luxury. But the lesson is evident: take time to stop and think before you act. Sometimes, just that split second of thought can open new ideas, let you see things in a new light, or make you re-think situations for the better.
Just Be You
On this series, Zack was a handsome playboy, Slater the jacked jock, Jesse the brainy one, Lisa the spoiled and fashionable one, Kelly the girl next door, and Screech the oddball. Yet they all got along with one another and became amazing friends.
You don’t have to hang out in a clique of people just like you, nor do you have to pretend to be someone you’re not. Just do you, and if you are confident in that, the right group of friends will come along. And they might be nothing like you, so never discount someone as being a possible best friend.
You Don’t Have To Be Perfect
While some of the characters seemed to be perfect specimens, a nice dose of reality proved that no one is perfect, and you shouldn’t try to be. Kelly, the girl who seemingly had everything, woke up with a pimple the same day as Homecoming when she was, of course, set to be crowned Homecoming Queen. In the end, she still won and accepted with grace, even with a purple face caused by emergency acne cream. In another episode, she is unable to attend Prom because her father lost his job and she couldn’t afford to go.
Then there’s that episode with Jessie who, while trying to remain the perfect straight-A student, took caffeine pills to stay awake to study and realized this isn’t the way to go. It’s OK not to be perfect all the time.