“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” cements itself as a timeless coming-of-age film, recently added to Netflix when everyone is looking for something to watch. 

The 2012 classic involves complex yet relatable characters. 

Set in the 90’s, the story follows an introverted “wallflower,” entering his freshman year of high school by counting the days until graduation. He stumbles into a friendship with other loners, and along with his step-sister Sam, they embrace the ups and downs and loves and disappointments of school life. 

What makes this movie stand out is its depth of the issues that include LGBTQ+ acceptance, sexual abuse, and mental illness. The characters’ adolescent struggles make almost any young adult watching it find some piece of themselves or their struggles in the story. 

As the film makes clear:  while it may feel like it, one is never alone in the struggles they face, especially now when isolation is the new normal. Know that you’re never alone.