“Iconic” is the only word needed to describe Troy Bolton’s graduation speech at the end of High School Musical 3: Senior Year. And honestly, what else would you expect from East High’s very own Renaissance man?
With that said, let’s take a deeper look at the parting words of the captain of the varsity basketball team (and of our hearts), Troy Bolton:
East High is a place where teachers encouraged us to break the status quo and define ourselves as we choose.
Now this is how you start a graduation speech: acknowledge the school, the faculty, and fellow students. Troy does all of this in one succinct sentence, and sounds quite thoughtful while doing so.
Where a jock can cook up a mean crème brûlée, and a brainiac can break it down on the dance floor.
In true Troy fashion, he doesn’t talk about his high school experiences, even though he has more than a few things he could brag about, such as his dual talent as a basketball god and song-and-dance man. Troy doesn’t need to overcompensate with a dumb inside joke or personal anecdote because he has no weaknesses, except maybe for scheduling things, but that’s besides the point. Instead, Troy chooses to recognize his classmates and why they’re awesome, specifically Zeke’s baking skills and Martha’s dance moves.
We get it Martha, you can pop, and lock, and jam. Moving on.
It’s a place where one person, if it’s the right person, changes us all.
While this is clearly a reference to Gabriella Montez, it’s a sentiment that almost anyone at East High, as well as high schools and colleges across this great nation of ours can relate to. Knowing his audience, Troy uses a generic term that can be applied to a friend, mentor, favorite teacher, or inspiring coach. Again, Troy is thinking of others before himself.
East High is having friends we’ll keep for the rest of our lives, and that means we really are ‘all in this together.’
Troy isn’t afraid to be in touch with his emotions, and that includes cheesy, but touching, lines like the one above. Bonus points for the HSM “All In This Together” reference.
Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!
Mic. Drop. There’s really nothing more to say because Troy just said it all.
Wait, we lied. We have to acknowledge one more thing about Troy’s incredible speech, the thing that truly cements it as the best grad speech ever: its length—it is literally four sentences, which we’re pretty sure makes it the the shortest graduation speech known to man, and anyone who’s had to sit through a graduation ceremony knows what a wonderful surprise that would have been.
So, thank you, Troy.
