For years, movies based on the high school experience have been a core part of the film industry, with cheesy classics defining several generations of teenagers. A way to both represent and influence, movies and TV can often define and shape teen experiences growing up, most notably the core four years of high school, where emotions are high and relatable representation is a necessity. 

   As the 2026 graduating class’s final year of high school comes to a close, Pinewood seniors are reflecting on the movies that influenced their time at Pinewood. From processing lessons on friendship and perseverance to simply feeling represented, Pinewood seniors shared the movies and shows that taught them new wisdom and perspectives.

   For senior Gwenneth Chang, a movie that shaped her high school experience was “Up,” particularly for its lessons on strength and persevering against all odds. 

   “[‘Up’] has themes of growing up, loss, and continuing to move forward, which resonated with me during these years,” Chang said. “High school can feel like a constant transition. ‘Up’ holds ideas like capturing memories while still being open to new adventures. It reminds me that even when things don’t go as planned, there’s still a lot ahead to look forward to.”

   In addition to teaching optimism, movies and shows also illustrate to seniors the beauty of unexpected differences. Both Addison Parenti and Jerry Yan saw this theme of friendship being explored in their respective favorites, “Stranger Things” and “Amélie”.

   For Parenti, “Stranger Things” was a defining part of her high school experience because the show’s timeline, starting with the main cast being seventh graders and ending with them graduating high school, lined up with her own timeline watching. 

   “It’s a show that’s directed for people who don’t necessarily fit in every situation,” Parenti said. “I think it’s very powerful how a bunch of misfit characters came together. That kind of reflects me and my friends, especially Pinewood in general. There are a lot of different people who do different things and live different lives, so it’s really cool to see that come together as it did in the show.”

   Yan resonated with “Amélie” partly due to his performance as the male lead in Pinewood’s production of the film’s musical adaptation. The film showed him the beauty of connections that spring from different places.

   “[‘Amélie’] is a story about a bunch of people coming together, their lives all coming together, and them opening up to people and really connecting with them,” Yan said. 

   “I feel like that’s really defined my high school experience because I came to Pinewood in freshman year from a middle school with 12 people, so it was a very big switch-up,” Yan said. “‘Amélie’ reflects finding a group of people that really care and are willing to be themselves around me, and for me to be able to be myself around them.”

   For seniors Jack Hollenbeck and Caitlin Yamaguchi, the most prominent films of their high school years were those that represented the quintessential American high school experience, be it the stressful college admission process or simply the cliche, Hollywood experience of American high school.

   For Hollenbeck, the representation came from an unlikely place: “No Other Choice,” a comedic drama about a man spiraling into violence in order to secure a job in the competitive Korean society, resonated with his years of academic rigor.

   “I went to watch it with several of my friends this year, and we found the movie especially relevant to us,” Hollenbeck said. “The movie existed as a critique of the competitive nature of Korean society; however, the film was also connected to my own life in an uber-competitive college admissions process.”

   Yamaguchi’s pick is a more literal representation of the high school experience.

   “I don’t have one movie that captured the experience, but I will say ‘High School Musical’ definitely made me excited to experience high school,” Yamaguchi said. “It gave me an idea of how much fun it could be and taught me a lot about friendships.”

   Watching stories is essential to defining the stages of life. In high school especially, finding films that can capture students’ emotions and alter their perspectives to a more positive outlook can provide this shaping. Years later, former students may look back at their favorite films and be reminded of this defining era of their lives, with the same emotions and the same outlooks on life.