High School Musical

Brooke and I went to see the Central Crossing High School production of High School Musical. We were both very impressed. It was neat to see students that I had taught in 6th or 8th grade suddenly transformed into confident, talented, self-assured individuals. Brooke was in awe of the cheerleaders and the dancers.


Neither of us had ever seen the actual movie, so we were both eagerly awaiting as the curtain rose. We had very few expectations. I was simply hoping to sit for an hour or two in a comfortable chair. Brooke was satisfied the minute she saw pom-poms.

For those of you unfamiliar with the HSM plot, it can be summed up as follows: A mix of Romeo and Juliet with a bit of S.E. Hiton's The Outsiders and a dab of Grease. It is simply put, a classic story of cliques that clash. As I held Brooke in my lap the entire time, I couldn't help but ponder the question - How would she survive the brutal nature of teenage girls? Her tenderheartedness leaves her easily offended by small little comments. She can tear up unexpectantly, even if someone isn't trying to hurt her feelings. She is scared of the dark. She doesn't like to go to the movie theater because it gets "too loud, too big, and too dark!" She says her "heart hurts: when she misses her mommy and daddy. She crumbles when she is scolded and knows that she did something wrong. How can this little thin-skinned child one day survive the jungle of high school?

I guess it is our job to prepare her for this world. How do I prepare her for it without hardening her? How do I keep that sweet heart inside of her without leaving her exposed to years of hurt? How do I nurture her innocence without making her a target? Each day I have more questions and fewer answers, but somehow I seem to get by. I hope I have a few more years to figure these things out. I am SO not ready to have teenagers (Especially those of the female variety!)

Still, the show was FANTASTIC.