Things We Learned From Jersey Shore

Remember Jersey Shore? It was the show that started it all - the first of its kind, signalling a revolution in a new brand of reality TV. 8 20-somethings thrown in a Jersey Shore summer house, fueled with alcohol, tans, egos and hormones! Now that's good television! It's almost 2 years since the popular series finished and we'd love to see where the cast are now.

Here are the things we learned from Jersey Shore.

9. Nice guys DON'T finish last.

Vinny is the personification of all things good in the Jersey Shore. A shy guy with he utmost of respect for his housemates and also knows how to let loose, Vinny was adorned by everybody mainly because he wore his heart on his sleeve. He's the voice of reason in the house - the Fool to Shakespeare's King Lear. Does it feel strangely wrong to link Shakespeare and Jersey Shore in the same sentence? Nope! Vinny had his personal battles and made it through in the end. Mr Nice Guy does not finish last.

8. It's important to stand up for yourself.

One lesson that we learned from Jenni is that it's crucial you stand up for yourself, and don't rely on anybody else to. She may not always be right but you know NOT to mess with her! JWOWW has got her sweeter side with her obvious nurturing motherly instincts coming out in the later series, and she's now expecting a baby with Roger who she met on the show.

7. Honesty is the best policy.

Given enough time, everything will eventually come out. Whether it's Ronnie doing the dirt on Sammi, Mike and Snooki hooking up or just a random person cheating on their partner, it all comes out in the end. So get it out and over with sooner rather than later, and you'll feel so much better! Rather than having it eat away at your conscience for ages. Take a leaf out of Pauly D's book...

6. There is hope for everyone.

Mike is someone that everyone wants to be. He's got everything - girls, money and a great body. A lot of people would be envious of that, and most would think of him as the last person in need of help. But he took a nosedive and silently faced his own struggles with addiction and depression. Thankfully he came out of it and is feeling better than ever, but it just goes to show you that there's always more than what meets the eye.

5. A bromance is the tightest bond a man can have.

Nowadays, when our generation thinks bromance, Vinny and Pauly D immediately spring to mind. Their bond was simply unbreakable. Their synchronized handshakes, dance routines, jokes, laughs and sayings were a joy to watch. It's guy love at it's very, very best.

4. Everybody grows up eventually.

Whether it's of your own accord or it's brought on by something life-changing, like a baby, everybody reaches that age when they realize that they've had their fun, and now it's time to start a new chapter. We saw that especially with Snooki, who was undoubtedly the biggest party animal in the house. But when she found out she was pregnant, she stepped upto the plate and handled her business and is due to be married to her long-term boyfriend Jionni very soon.

3. You don't have to be Italian to be Italian, just like you don't have to be Irish to be Irish.

The Guidos and Guidettes from the Jersey Shore are all proud of their Italian roots, yet few of them have actually visited their homeland until they visit Florence in the show. Their reaction when they get to the motherland is one of shock and awe, and clearly a fitting place for the cast to stay. This is the case for millions of Irish who live in the US but have never actually been to Ireland. Well, I guess the bottom line is that you don't have to visit the motherland to consider yourself apart of that nation and culture.

2. We all have a friend who's stuck in a "Ronnie and Sammi" relationship.

The name-calling, the drunken fights, the physical and emotional abuse and the passive aggressive bullshit. We all have those friends who seem like they're trapped in a toxic relationship, and we saw a lot of that with Ronnie and Sam. Thank God we don't have cameras following us around everywhere WE go!

1. Hang onto your close friends.

Deena was a latecomer to the party but burst onto the scene in spectacular meatball fashion. Her and Snooki both tore the house down on their first night on the show and both learned from their mistakes. But they were as thick as thieves throughout the entire show and remain to this day. Hang on to your real friends in life and you'll live with very little regrets.