Before you toss your cap in the air and say stand in a room with your graduating class one last time, there’s one final assignment you need to complete: watching High School Musical 3: Senior Year.
It may be a cheesy Disney movie with cliche romances and spontaneous songs and choreography, but it is also a senior year survival guide wrapped in nostalgia and real emotions. This is why every graduating senior should hit play before walking across the stage.
This movie captures the chaos of senior year perfectly. Although it may show an unrealistic expectation of how high school goes, its overall message still rings true.
Troy Bolton, the star basketball player at East High, is torn between following his father’s dream of playing college ball at Albuquerque State, pursuing his passion for theatre, and trying to keep his relationship with Gabriella intact.
In his iconic song “Scream” Troy sings, “Is it her? Is it love? Can I choose? Do I want it enough?” Troy’s inner conflict greatly represents the difficult choice that us seniors deal with when deciding where we’re going to go after high school.
Furthermore, this movie revolves around the final play for these characters at East High: the spring musical. The drama teacher, Mrs. Darbus says, “This year, we’ll be doing something a little different. Our spring musical will be… about you.” Although there were some mixed emotions, Troy ultimately convinced his classmates after saying “This is our last chance to do something together.”
That phrase perfectly highlights the bittersweet feelings that come with senior year – the year of lasts.
Chad Danforth and Troy’s friendship is also highlighted throughout this movie. In their duet “The Boys Are Back”, they go back to their roots and imagine themselves as their younger selves, when college and life changing decisions were nothing in comparison to what imaginary villains they were fighting on the playground.
One of the hardest parts of senior year is coming to terms with the fact that you won’t be seeing some of your best friends everyday, and Chad and Troy’s friendship in this movie emphasizes just that.
In the end Troy makes a decision, saying, “I’ve chosen basketball, but I’ve also chosen theater. The University of California in Berkeley offers me both. And that’s where I’ll be going next fall. Most of all, I choose the person who inspires my heart, which is why I picked a school that’s exactly 32.7 miles from……you. Gabriella Montez. Stanford University. School of Law”
Personally, this is one of the most romantic and impactful quotes I’ve ever heard, and it still brings tears to my eyes to this day.
Troy followed his heart, which is why High School Musical 3 is such a good reminder to high school seniors today. Although Troy thought he was gonna have to sacrifice one thing or the other, it all worked out in the end.
Seniors, as we get ready to graduate in a few short weeks, always remember that where you are headed is where you’re meant to be. It may be scary, but know, we’re all in this together.
