If you are like me and grew up watching Disney Channel and Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs), you know that they gave you certain expectations about what high school, life, and relationships would be like. I recently had a weekend with a lot of free time, so I did what any 2000s girl would do: watch DCOMs on Netflix. I also watched some of the newer ones I hadn’t seen, and some were just as good as the classics. As I watched them I realized that real life is not at all like it is for the main characters in both the many TV series and movies. Disney Channel is targeted toward children, tweens, and early teens who believe that high school might actually be like those shows and movies. As I re-watched them I noticed many things that I had once believed to be true that are not. There are also many things that I expected to happen that didn’t.
1. It was not always obvious who the mean girl was.
In many DCOMs and shows it is easy to tell who the notorious spoiled mean girl is. She is always the one deliberately mean to her friends and trying to destroy the new girl. In real life she often ends up being a friend or someone who puts up a fake exterior.
2. I have never met the stereotypical dumb, spoiled girl.
I believe this girl is a myth. While there are some people who are not the smartest, I don’t believe in this stereotype. Just because someone is spoiled doesn’t mean they are dumb.
3. I didn’t meet the love of my life within an hour of being in a new place.
A girl can dream that she will meet her Troy Bolton at any moment, but it is highly unlikely. You have to be patient because love takes time. #allthehighschoolmusicalgifs
4. I have never stumbled upon a celebrity.
I blame Hannah Montana, Camp Rock, and several other DCOMs for giving me such high expectations. As much as I wish it would come true, I probably will not meet the celebrities on my favorites list.
5. I have never found myself in an extremely weird situation.
I really expected this to happen to more. I gotta admit, though, I’m pretty grateful I’ve never been in a weird situation like Raven has on so many occasions.
6. Life events have not always turned out perfectly.
Vacations, high school, and dates have not always gone well. They are not always perfect on DCOMs or shows, but the characters always seem to get a second chance and they always end up being magical.
7. My friends have not always stayed my friends.
Friends come and go. On Disney friends rarely breakup, and that paints an unrealistic view of life. It’s a hard thing to go through, but it’s a part of life.
Despite Disney giving me unrealistic expectations, I will always love the shows and movies I grew up watching. When I have kids I will make them watch what I grew up with, and I will be transported back to my childhood as they experience theirs. I recommend taking a day to relax, white-knuckle the cheesiness, and relive your childhood.