How to Become Troy Bolton in 8 Easy Steps

First, my qualifications: Hi, I’m Charlotte Park, and I’m playing Troy Bolton in the Bush School’s very own production of High School Musical (yes, you should go see it this Spring). I was struggling with finding the Troy Bolton within myself; I’m not an angsty teen boy, I don’t play basketball, nor do I have hair straight out of a shampoo commercial. After I got over my (momentary) insecurity, I discovered I don’t need any of those things to be Troy Bolton. And neither do you! So you may be asking yourself, how do I become a Disney Channel heartthrob? And if you're not asking yourself that, then what are you doing with your life?

1. Be a disappointment to your dad. This one’s easy and can be done in a variety of ways. Here is a purely hypothetical example of how to execute this one: Be the youngest of three daughters, with your two older sisters below average height. Be a very tall middle schooler, but instead of playing basketball and bonding with your dad over a mutual love of basketball, join your school's play. 

2. Be forced to make a decision between playing a sport and something in the arts. Take the classic path of choosing between auditioning for the lead in the school musical and upholding the status quo by captaining the basketball team. Or add your own creative twist, like choosing between playing for your hockey team and starting your new acapella group.  

3. Break the status quo. Try something new! Do something bold! Get your lunch in the commons instead of the pantry. Swap out your Air Force 1s for Crocs. Maybe even go to a senate meeting. 

4. Perform a song on a golf course with the angstiest lyrics and dance moves you can come up with. Sadly, I do not know where any golf courses are, but I assure you before Bush’s production in May I will have done this. Also, if you don’t get this reference, clearly you have not watched High School Musical 2 recently enough. Go watch it now. Hey, you might as well make a marathon of it and watch all three. 

5. Never wash your hair. To truly achieve the Troy Bolton look you need your hair to be dripping with grease and sweat. If you really want to commit, get a bowl cut.   

6. Have unmatched school spirit. Maybe it's being the coach's son or being the basketball team's captain, or maybe it's just because he just really likes the color red, but Troy is almost always sporting the school's colors and merch. To really become Troy you need to up your Blazer spirit, whether that means a new blue and white wardrobe, or just wearing your Bush merch everywhere.

7. Ditch your iphone and get a flip phone. They say the 2000s are back, which means 2000s phones are too. To really get into the mindset of Troy Bolton you need to experience the frustration of navigating a flip phone. And haven’t you always wanted to hang up a phone call with the flick of your wrist? 

8. Always be late. I know the tardiness epidemic is on a downward curve, but for the real Troys out there, being late is essential. If you really can’t stomach a Friday conversation, try being late to other things than class, like callbacks.