Looking for a nostalgic escape from another grueling day in college? Sometimes you need to look no further than your favorite childhood cartoon. For me, that special cartoon is Spongebob Squarepants.  

Spongebob is an iconic show for almost all 2000s kids. Watching the show influenced me in my most formative years from humor to vocabulary. Even into my early twenties, I am frequently reminded of certain quotes and episodes of Spongebob that make me smile and reflect on the eminent cultural relevance of the show. 

The cartoon goes beyond entertainment, though. There are many things you can learn from Spongebob himself. Even if you don’t plan on flipping patties in your thirties, Spongebob can teach you a lot about living your best life no matter what struggles are thrown your way. Here are five things you can learn from Spongebob Squarepants: 

Optimism

One of the most striking personality traits of Spongebob is his almost constant optimism. He always sees the bright side in every situation and does not give up easily. Spongebob might be naive and juvenile for his age, but these qualities show that adulthood does not have to crush your vitality or positive attitude. 

When Squidward and Spongebob get lost trying to deliver a Krusty Krab pizza, Spongebob remains positive through the whole ordeal. He feels confident that they can find the house and get the order to their customer, even when Squidward tries to give up and eat the pizza. 

Imagination 

Spongebob can turn a piece of paper into a clarinet and a box into a dramatic avalanche. While what he does at times defies physics, it does inspire me to be more creative and innovative. Creativity helps you solve problems by thinking outside of the box (or even within a literal box). 

We see his imagination shine through when he comes up with a jellyfish jelly Krabby Patty and a line of colorful Pretty Patties. Spongebob arguably has an entrepreneurial spirit that allows him to come up with unique goods that people want to buy. 

Passion 

We can only hope to one day wake up before work with a massive smile on our face, saying (and repeating) “I’m Ready!” Spongebob does what he loves. He doesn’t care about money or status; he genuinely enjoys making Krabby Patties and spreading the joy they give to others. 

Spongebob responds to tasks with enthusiasm without complaining or reducing his quality of work. I dream of having a job doing what I love and living reasonably well just like him. Whatever you are studying and working towards, Spongebob teaches a lesson on the power of passion. 

Kindness 

Spongebob always has positive regard for others, even for his unreasonably greedy boss, Mr. Krabs and his grumpy coworker, Squidward. He always assumes that others are well-intentioned, which unfortunately leads to him getting taken advantage of at times. Spongebob’s kindness will need to be adapted a bit for practicality. For example, you can be kind without letting people walk all over you. 

Still, his kindness is inspiring in these harsh and selfish times. In one episode, Plankton tries to manipulate Spongebob into being aggressive to get everyone to leave the beach. His good nature overrides these attempts, though, and Spongebob goes above and beyond to make it up to anyone he harmed.    

Friendship 

Spongebob’s friends are quite the motley crew, from an underwater squirrel to a ditsy sea star, he is willing to befriend anyone. We are naturally inclined to be friends with those who look like us or act like us, but Spongebob shows how we can still reach common ground with people of vastly different backgrounds or appearances. 

Spongebob also does a fantastic job of maintaining his friendships. Other than a short bout of agoraphobia in which he befriends a used napkin, Spongebob frequently hangs out with his friends, going on adventures and doing fun activities. If you have a long-term or even childhood best friend, cherish them because you can’t replace those bonds. 

This list might seem a bit silly. After all, I’m preaching life lessons from a cartoon for children. Still, I hope you find things to learn in your favorite shows as well. 

Commentary writer Christina West can be reached at [email protected].