By: Grace Chang and Ariana Khateeb
Teen movies have depicted high school as either the greatest or worst four years of our lives. In reality, it’s most likely the latter. The glamour campus and lifestyles of the protagonists in High School Musical along with the unrealistic events that occur in the movie causes disappointment to average teenager.
Even though the High School Musical trilogy is a household classic, it does raise a few red flags especially in the gang’s senior year. In High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Troy Bolton is accepted into UC Berkeley as a theater major and is on their basketball team. Bolton, being out out of state and accepted into Berkeley does not seem impossible, but he applied way past the deadline. He only thought of going to UC Berkeley when Gabriella Montez declared that she was going to go to Stanford. Not only did he get into UC Berkeley, but he was also considered by JUILLIARD. JUILLIARD WENT TO HIS SPRING MUSICAL. His drama teacher illegally submitted an application for him to JUILLIARD. This seems highly unlikely considering that the acceptance rate in 2008 was 21.5% with 10,388 students admitted for both in state and out states. Unless Troy was able to earn a sports scholarship or had an average GPA of 3.87 he would not have even considered by UC Berkeley.
High School Musical 2 focused on the summer into senior year and it was too perfect. Having a job with all your friends in the same workplace is literally impossible. At some point, the entire basketball team was working in the kitchen. Sharpay Evans did hire all of them to get closer to Troy like the true icon she is, but nobody in high school knows someone THAT rich.
High School Musical 1 starts with Troy and Gabriella meeting each other on vacation on New Years’ eve.
Even though the movies were slightly inaccurate, it did showcase an important point where you are able to be good at more than one thing where you do not have to stick to the status quo. The first movie highlighted joining different clubs and activities that might not mix well. High school should be the time to discover yourself, even if your hobbies and interests conflict each other or your friend’s hate it.