High school movies are full of stereotypes. Movies like Mean Girls, High School Musical, and Heathers are examples of movies that give kids unrealistic high school expectations. Many of these stereotypes have completely disappeared, but some of them still linger in school. 

Only Illusions 

   Sophomore Isabella De La Rosa said, “Older movies create more stereotypes about the students and how high school is going to look like.” She goes on to explain that older movies usually feature a lot of smart, weak nerds and have the popular kids portrayed as jerks. She adds, “High school movies give us fake situations that will not happen in real life.”  

A senior male who chose to remain anonymous agrees, saying, “High school movies set high expectations that are not real.” 

The Popular Kids 

This is especially true concerning movie stereotypes of popular kids. Sophomore Sofia Herrera says, “Unlike the popular kids in movies who are jerks and bullies, popular kids in Miami High are popular because they are nice.”  She goes on to say that is also because popular kids are social.  

Freshman Zoey agrees with Sofia, saying, ” I think to be considered popular you would need to be recognizable. Of course, not every popular kid is the same, but most of them are well known because they are in clubs or sports.” 

I am… 

    High school stereotypes do exist; they are just very subtle. Freshman Chris Reyes, who is part of the band clique, believes there are many cliques around school. He said, “Art kids is one of my favorite cliques. They are usually in a world of their own and are really friendly.”  

    Zoey  said, “I was looking forward to meeting the emo’s, since I was told I fit into that group.” 

But what about the nerds? 

    Nerds in movies are stereotyped as kind and easy to be taken advantage of, but Miami High students believe this

could not be farther from the truth. Sophomore Dajane Luna says, “Nerds are usually not rule breakers or loud. But the nerds I have met put other people down and they are competitive. Miami High nerds and popular kids are total opposites.” 

   Junior Keilly agrees. “Nerds are usually the kids who are really smart but when you ask them for help in class they are really condescending about it,” she said. 

Do stereotypes lead to bullying? 

     Stereotypes do not influence bullying like how high school movies lead us to believe. Junior Keilly says, “I think regardless of what group you’re apart of, you still have the chance of getting bullied.”  

     Another male senior who chose to be anonymous agrees.  “Cliques have nothing to do with bullying,” he said. “Being a nerd or popular does not make you more of a target for bullying. Bullying can happen to anyone.”