Do you remember those days when you were a bright-eyed elementary kid excited for the seemingly fantastic world of high school? Being a child, the only knowledge we had on high school was from false movies like High School Musical. So when we entered high school it was not a surprise we all thought it was about being popular, cliques, finding your one true love, and of course singing and dancing about everything.

However, high school is nothing like the musical for the following reasons. 

First of all, there is no singing and dancing. Like Thunder Ridge High School Senior Bryn Kirkendoll said, “The only time singing breaks out is when choir kids or drama kids are practicing for a performance.” 

Second of all, and many may not agree with this, but athletes like football players and cheerleaders aren’t that big of a deal. Unlike the movie, they never walk around every day in their uniforms. Also yes in some cases these athletes are “popular,” but one would argue in most cases it’s because of their personalities.

Now, this may be the most unrealistic portrayal featured in High School Musical, but you actually have to do work. The musical made it seem like high school was all about your social life, and yes, that is important, but the main purpose of high school is schoolwork.

Lastly the musical portrays high school as being all about those stereotypical cliques, like the athletes and “geeks.” However, that’s not true at all. A football player may be close with his teammates but still have other close friends that don’t even like football. Kirkendoll argued, “ There are cliques but they are friends with other cliques.”

Now some like Bonneville High School senior Janie Way argue that “High school is actually a lot like the musical. It has its ups and downs, good relationships, and bad ones, but I think it all worked out for the better.”

In the end, High School Musical is a great childhood movie, but it is an inaccurate portrayal of life in high school.