By Kadie Gurley
Believe it or not, “Mean Girls” taught me valuable lessons in life. The 2004 film exaggerates, but depicts what real life in high school is like.
Cliques, relationships and drama are just some words that come to mind when I think of the movie. It has helped shape pop culture and many people still refer to its iconic quotes today. I have a special bond to this film.
I basically have the same name as the main character, Cady Heron, played by Lindsay Lohan. From time to time, people call me Cady Heron in reference to the movie because our first names are pronounced the same.
As a kid, I watched the movie to get a good laugh, but as an adult there are many things that indirectly correlate to me in 2022. Here are five things that we can all learn from watching “Mean Girls.”
Cady Heron on her first day in the "Plastics" Photo credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Be yourself.
It is important to be yourself and be authentic. Being true to who you are is key to seeking real friends.
As shown in “Mean Girls,” people will try to define you and change your originality into their own. The more Cady hung out with the “Plastics,” she started to deny her ingenuity, purposely failed exams, and even risked expulsion just to fit in and be popular. Cady began dressing like the “Plastics” at school and embraced all the fake friend energy without realizing it.
There were times in which I wanted friends in high school so bad to the point where I changed the way I spoke to fit in with the kids. Eventually, I found out that I had started to act a bit fake and experienced a mirror moment. I reflected on my actions and started acting like myself. Having less, but more genuine friends is better than having lots fake friends. Real friends will show up over time, like Janis Ian and Damian Leigh, two characters in the film.
Don’t force friendships.
Do not try and force people to be friends with you.
In the film, many girls attempted get Regina George’s approval in order for them to feel accepted. Gretchen Wieners, one of the Plastics, was often hurt by some of Regina’s words throughout the movie. She typically put those feelings aside though to remain on her good side and stay popular.
Sometimes, you have to break off unhealthy friendships if they are not working out. There have been friendships in which I left because they were doing activities that I did not want to be a part of and talking about others right after complimenting them.
It is not worth staying in a friend group that causes more drama than it benefits. It is time consuming and exhausting trying to stay in unhealthy friendships and relationships.
As a kid, I did not realize how desperate and attention deprived Cady really was. To this day, it makes me upset how she changed herself for others to like her. The right person will show up. Just be patient. I see others forcing their way into relationships, but unsure if the significant other’s feelings are mutual. If the person truly likes you, the effort will be made.
Cady answers the final question before North Shore High winning the mathlete competition. Photo credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Try your best in school.
Developing a crush is fun, but can be a blinding experience. Sometimes we get so lost into a person that we like that we do some questionable things.
In Cady’s situation, she prioritized getting Aaron Samuels to like her by purposely doing horrible in class so that he could tutor her. Eventually, he caught on and turned her away for some time.
No matter how cute someone is, not trying your best is not the way to get their attention. If anything, doing well in school is a flex. You don’t need to be a mathlete like Cady and Kevin Gnapoor, but work hard in class and great outcomes will come out of it.
Introduction of Cady brings flashbacks to her upbringing to South Africa. Photo credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Be proud of where you came from.
It wasn’t expressed in the script much, but by the way Cady started to act to fit in, you can tell she was denying her culture or using it to harm others. She was originally from South Africa and was homeschooled until she moved to Illinois to attend North Shore High School. She wore a bracelet made in her home country, but as she saw Regina criticizing other student’s outfits, she slowly denied her culture with a desperation to fit in.
Do not let anyone make you feel like denying your culture is the right thing to do. Be proud of where you came from. My mom’s side of the family is mainly from Jamaica. I used to deny my heritage because I wanted to be “regular.” But at the end of the day, that is my identity. It is who I am and it is a reminder of how far my family has come to provide a better life for me and my siblings.
North Shore announces Cady as Spring Fling queen. Photo credit: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
You can be a king or queen without the crown.
After both the Burn Book and Regina’s bus accident, it was safe to say that Cady was portrayed as the mean girl after all.
During her time period of reflection, she shows up to the dance after winning the Mathlete competition and unexpectedly wins Spring Fling Queen. With all the attention on her, she gives the iconic speech.
“You know I’ve never been to one of these things before, and when I think about how many people wanted this, and how many people cried over it and stuff,” she said. “I mean, I think everybody looks great tonight. Look at Jessica Lopez, that dress is amazing, and Emma Gerber, that hair-do must have taken hours and you look really pretty. So why is everybody stressing over this thing? I mean it’s just plastic.”
Her acceptance speech was important to me because it seemed like she was reflecting on herself and comparing her past actions as the crown she received. It’s plastic which is known to be fake.
In her speech, Cady indirectly states how a lot of the girls act fake to claim that high status. She reflects on herself too because she had ignored who her true friends are, failed exams for a guy who already liked her, and acted differently to who she really was. She ended up breaking the crown and giving pieces to others who were shown within their different cliques earlier on in the movie. That was a form of unity. She portrayed being a queen without a crown perfectly.
Who knew we would be able to seek tips from “Mean Girls”? Hopefully, when you watch the film today, since it is Oct. 3, some of these will be helpful while you relive the iconic scenes.
