'School Daze' was one of the highlights of my life because it was the first chance I had to act on screen. I would have been happy if that had been it, because I proved that I could do it.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
With 'Dazed and Confused,' I got the high school experience I didn't get to have.
On the whole, I think I spent a lot of high school just trying to stay under the radar: I don't think I was all that memorable.
I remember I'd come home from fifth, sixth grade, and I'd watch 'Saved by the Bell' and be like, 'I hope my high school experience is like that.' And it totally wasn't. It sucked.
I enjoyed school - although I ran away on the first day. I'd reminded the teacher that it was nearly time for 'Watch With Mother' on TV.
Luckily, the public school system that I was in had a really great drama program, so I plunged into that. It really sort of kept me afloat because I was bored in school.
The theatre at my school was awesome. It was a 1,400-seat auditorium, so, being in that auditorium at 17, and having, like, 1,400 people cheer for you was, like, one of the most amazing feelings that I've ever felt, energy-wise. It just felt right.
Doing well in school was a cool thing to do when I was in high school, so I had a blast.
I barely got out of high school, and I look back at my life often and go, 'Wow, this was awesome!'
It was the highlight of my life being in the Mae West show, because I saw and did things I never had before.
'High School Musical' is definitely the best thing that's happened to my career and I walked away with great friends from it.