Fictional Television Characters Who Changed My Life

10. Kevin McAllister - Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

It's a no brainer. At the beginning of first film, Kevin is seen annoyed with his family. He thinks he's better off without them. Imagine his surprise when he wakes up on the morning of the day he and his entire extended family were supposed to be leaving for France only to find that he's *gasp* home alone. Kevin is forced to do things a child his age would never normally have to face, such as but not limited to, outsmarting two burglars named Harry and Marv who are determined to break in to the seemingly empty house. He steps up and protects his house, while facing his fears of the scary neighbor and the furnace in the basement. When his family finally makes their way home, Kevin is delighted by their return, just in time for Christmas. By the next movie, a year later, and Christmastime again, Kevin is back to his ways. Now a little older, he has been around the block. He doesn't want to go to Florida for Christmas, it just isn't right to him. He just wants to stay home with his family. I find it heart warming when Kevin goes out of his way to stop the two criminals a second time after Kevin winds up in New York City by himself, bumping to them again once they've broke out of prison, they tell him their newest plan: they're going to rob the toy store Kevin had visited not long ago, Duncan's Toy Chest. Along the way, Kevin befriends the strange woman in Central Park who had previously scared the bejesus out of him, learning the important life lesson that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

9. Jay Cartwright - The Inbetweeners

It's no secret, Jay has a lot of problems. He's cocky and very sex obsessed – he's a teenager after all. His personality is goofy, dishonest, and sometimes just rude. It appears that he's a liar as he likes to tell his mates farfetched stories. It's difficult to believe much of what he says. Suddenly, it became so clear. The truth comes out, what we can expected all along. Jay is nowhere near experienced as he had let on. He's just insecure, he chooses to hide it is through tales of his "scores." Deeper into the series, Jay gets his heart broken. It's then we get to see his sensitive side be exposed and the human in me loves it.

8. Ellie Nash - Degrassi: The Next Generation

Ellie put the emo in emotional. She was different, which struck my interest right away. She certainly was no Paige Michalchuk. Whether it was bonding with Ashley or falling in love with bad boy Sean, I couldn't get enough of Ellie. She made me feel as though I wasn't as alone as I thought I was.

7. April Nardini - Gilmore Girls

For twelve years, Luke didn't know she even existed. What goes without being said is that for all that time, April does go without knowing her father. Once he's in her life, April is very matter-of-factly and go with the flow instead of letting emotion get in the way. I look up to that and wish I could apply that sort of attitude to my own life.

6. The Grinch - The Grinch who Stole Christmas

I know what you're thinking, am I out of my mind? But let's be real for a moment. The Grinch stole Christmas, yes. But, why? People were jerks to him and treated him like he was an outsider so much that he snapped. He took to solitude in mountains. When we get down to it, The Grinch didn't hate Christmas. He hates The Whos. He grew to be a guy with major distaste for socializing. I have a spot in my heart for The Grinch because I can relate to him. I'd like to hide in the mountains away from everyone too if it were at all an option.

5. Callie Torres - Grey's Anatomy

Calliope 'Callie' Torres shows up in the second season and George catches her attention. At the time, George is all torn up about Meredith, and is not living at home, to Izzy's dismay. We see Callie as somewhat of an underdog here as Izzy makes it well known she's not a fan of the new partnership. I admire the way Callie demands the things she needs from George in order for the relationship to work. His honesty, his support, his trust. Callie is never afraid to stickup for herself. The confidence that radiates from her is very encouraging to me.

4. Lane Kim - Gilmore Girls

Lane is the best friend of main character Rory Gilmore. Although she is in the background of the show, she often stuck out to me. Her mother Mrs. Kim is a strict Korean woman who expects her daughter to be as devoted to God as she is herself. She also wants Lane to have her innocence intact. These high expectations cause Lane to lead a sort of double life. At home, she is tame Lane Kim, church-going extraordinaire who helps out at Kims' Antiques, the family business. At school and in the Gilmore household, Lane conducts herself as her much cooler persona. Obsessed with music, Lane loves rock 'n roll. She even starts to play drums in a band. It hits close to home for me as a younger age, I often felt I was living a life as the person society wanted me to be. Lane and I had that in common. Also, I'm pleased that she is as music crazy as I am.

3. Jane Jones, aka 'Alice Ayres' - Closer

I can't help but love Jane's air of mystery about her. She shows up from NYC, after problems with a male. Jane says walking away is the only way to leave. "I don't love you anymore. Goodbye." Dan seems troubled by this but they fall for each other anyway. By the end of the movie, Jane has left Dan, and London, to return to NYC. Her future is unsure but she has left Dan, because she didn't love him anymore. Her words of advice have stuck with me for years.

2. Trent Lane - Daria

When I first saw Trent, he was introduced as Jane Lane's older brother and Daria's object of desire. A crush, that's cute. Trent is portrayed as a slacker guitar player without a firm grasp on reality. As the series progresses, we see more from Trent. He really cares about his younger sister, about her happiness. The two youngest Lane siblings are more than just family. They're best friends. The compassion Trent has moves me enough to admit he is my animated television crush.

1. Poussey Washington - Orange Is the New Black

I fell head over heels in love with this character the moment she showed up during season one. When she began to get more air time and character development, I was overjoyed. Her backstory hit me hard in the feels. I'm a romantic, it spoke to me. When she and Soso became a couple, my girl loving heart ached in happiness for them. I was ecstatic, Poussey was finally getting a love she could hold on to. Then, tragedy struck. I was not prepared for her unjustified death. It hurt me more than I wanted to say. Yes, she was just a fictional character. But no, it was more than that to me. I spent so many hours loving her. Gushing over her. The death hit me the way a real death would. I still feel a sting whenever I think about it.