For my World Cultures/Geography class, I had to do a project on a object, group, or idea that changed or impacted the world. 

Naturally, as a proud member of the SPNFamily I had to do Supernatural. 

When I told my teacher that's what I wanted to do mine on (we had to make sure he approved it) he looked at me like I was nuts. I bet he was thinking "How does a TV show impact anything?" Most people would think the same thing, but anyone who watches Supernatural know that it's so much more than a TV show or a fandom. It's a lifestyle, it's a family, it's what keeps me going when nothing else does, it's the reason why I Always Keep Fighting, and it's so much more.

I convinced my teacher to let me do it as my project despite how skeptical he was.

Needless to say I got a 100% on that project.

Below is my essay on How Supernatural Changed the World (Warning: Since I wrote this for school it is based more on facts than emotion or personal experience.)

For privacy reasons I erased all of the user names of quotes I gathered from Wattpad users.

"If you're going to have faith, you can't just have it when miracles happen, you have to have it when they don't." Layla Rourke, Episode 1x12, Supernatural. ("13 Meaningful 'Supernatural' Quotes") This is exactly what Supernatural and the actors of Supernatural have done for the world. They teach Supernatural fans around the world how to have faith when it seems like there is none. Supernatural also helps teach many people the importance of family. Most importantly, Supernatural has even saved lives.

In the show, the characters deal with so many back to back problems and with that comes the loss of hope and faith. The characters stop believing in what they are doing and lose all hope of fixing their problems. Many times the characters go so far as completely giving up. However, there is always a character who still has a little bit of faith and they help the others realize that there is still hope left. They do this many times throughout the show, and always end up reaching their goals. This helps to show many people just how far having a little faith can get you. Along with this, it also helps to teach people that they shouldn't give up, something I think people in this world could really use.

One of the major themes of Supernatural is family. The two main characters are brothers who always have each other's backs. They count on each other. They go through so many ordeals but they always stick together. There have been instances where they have gotten mad and argued, but they always made up. Together, the brothers could do almost anything, but by themselves, they could only do so much. It shows that family will always have your back, and in some cases, your family is the only ones whom you can trust. Adam Barto wrote an article titled, "How 'Supernatural' Changed my Life." In this article, he speaks about how Supernatural has been an escape for him and how it has taught him the importance of family. Barto states, "But in all seriousness, the show's taught me so much about family and how they'll always have your back. No matter what. And that's what really matters, right?" ("How 'Supernatural' Changed My Life") Wattpad user ________ who lives here in the United States also says, "Being that every day I face internal or external struggles that almost cripple me, I find a safe haven in Supernatural, relate to the characters, and I have met wonderful people through the show. Supernatural has truly taught me that family doesn't end in blood. It has helped me through my darkest days. I'll never ever forget that and it saddens me that the show will end soon." (Wattpad- Stories You'll Love) The fandom is even referred to as the SPNFamily by most fans.

Most important out of all of these things is that the main actors in Supernatural have helped to save lives. Many people who like the show grow to be curious about the actors involved, and many will be surprised to know that the main actors of the show have campaigns dedicated to depression, suicide, and self-love. In fact, Jared Padalecki who plays Sam Winchester has multiple of these campaigns. The most popular of his campaigns is the "Always Keep Fighting" campaign. This campaign focuses on dealing with depression and suicide prevention. Jared has had his own battles with depression and urges people to always keep fighting and never give up. He also promotes self-love, urging us to learn to love ourselves and be proud of who we are through the "Love Yourself First" campaign, a step in the right direction for suicide prevention. Along with Jared, his fellow co-workers, Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester) and Misha Collins (Castiel) also have their own campaign called "You Are Not Alone." Misha states, "I am actually very optimistic that this could have a real impact on a lot of people. We hear literally dozens of stories at every convention that are just heartbreaking. I was signing autographs on Sunday and I had to just get up from the table because there's a 13-year-old girl who tried to kill herself and it's so hard to believe that so many people have such a hard time, but of course, they do..." (Prudom) Misha was also the one who founded the Random Acts charity in 2011 to spread good deeds around the world. All three actors also created a suicide hotline by Supernatural Fans for Supernatural fans where fans of the show can volunteer to talk to callers who are struggling. These campaigns also include different items you can buy like shirts. The money that they receive goes to organizations that support these things such as To Write Love on Her Arms and The Wounded Warrior Project. (Prudom) These campaigns have done so much for so many people all around the world. Wattpad user ____________ who lives in Slovakia states, "Supernatural made me realize that family can be a chosen one. It doesn't always end with blood. Family always has your back. Thanks to Supernatural I've found my will to fight against my mental illnesses and I've found my new family, who supports me all the time - my Supernatural family. Supernatural has changed every aspect of my life because it's not just a show. It's a lifestyle." (Wattpad- Stories You'll Love)

The first episode of Supernatural was aired on September 13, 2005. There are thirteen completed seasons and season fourteen is airing now. Seasons one to six feature a twenty-two episode season, with the exception of season three which only has sixteen. Seasons seven to thirteen featured twenty-three episodes and season fourteen is said to have only twenty. The show was actually set to end after the fifth season but since there was such an interest in it, they kept it going and it is now referred to as the longest running North American sci-fi show.

Supernatural has been impacting people since it first aired and has continued impacting them for years. The show has spread throughout the world and has a very large following and it continues to spread, having more and more people watching it every day. With that, comes the knowledge of these campaigns and they are spreading as well. Wattpad user _________ who lives in Dubai says, "While every actor and creator on Supernatural has motivated people to put up videos, art, and stories online for others to see, the people within the SPNFamily are welcoming and encouraging. We all share one liking and this bonds us together, bringing us to find a home in this wonderful fandom. Whether it is Jared Padalecki's "Always Keep Fighting" campaign, giving support to people with depression, or Misha Collins' GISHWHES Scavenger Hunt that unites people to complete fun tasks all around the world, everyone has brought change to the lives of fans. The episodes alone have brought hours of conversation and entertainment to people and that itself is phenomenal." (Wattpad- Stories You'll Love)

I think Supernatural will continue to impact the world in the future, even after the show comes to a close. I believe that people will continue to watch it over and over again and talk about it with friends for years to come. At the Supernatural convention in Pittsburgh, June 10, 2018, Jared stated, "The show is gonna end. I don't think the SPNFamily has to end."

Works Cited

"13 Meaningful 'Supernatural' Quotes." The Odyssey Online, 4 Nov. 2017

"How 'Supernatural' Changed My Life." United By Pop, 7 Jan. 2017

Prudom, Laura. "'Supernatural' Star Jared Padalecki Talks Depression and Why You Should 'Always Keep Fighting'." Variety

Prudom, Laura. "'Supernatural' Star Misha Collins Talks Tackling Lucifer and New Charity Campaign." Variety

Wattpad - Stories You'll Love