Within the ebbs and flows of high school, many feats will come a student’s way. In Twilight Sparkle’s educational journey in the nostalgic and iconic television show “My Little Pony”, she is depicted with the guidance of her advisor of sorts, Princess Celestia, and she develops autonomy and what kind of character she is.
She figures this out through becoming friends with five other ponies, all of which represent a different aspect of friendship, known as the elements of harmony, and Twilight Sparkle’s goal through her academics is to further her knowledge of the magic of friendship.
She travels to Ponyville and acclimates herself to the temperatures of a smaller town with a tight-knit community. She finds herself in a small friend group that includes Pinkie Pie, who brings laughter; Fluttershy, who represents kindness; Applejack, who brings honesty; Rainbow Dash, who brings loyalty; and Rarity, who represents generosity. No matter what, each of these friends has Twilight’s back and shows her the lay of the land through their own lenses, offering new perspectives for the newcomer who represents the magic of friendship as a whole.
“Pinkie Pie was always the most optimistic… What stood out to me the most is the importance of perspective, and that Pinkie Pie’s “optimistic outlook” allowed for continuous positivity. Clara Lee Senior
Each pony is given a “cutie mark,” which is a symbol that represents the pony’s character, motives, or destiny in general. A pony receives their cutie mark when they understand it for themselves. This concept is a great metaphor for the process of self-discovery as a teenager.
No, decisions and actions made at this age do not determine an entire life path. However, what we choose to do with our time now does affect what we have in mind for our future. At this period between adolescence and adulthood, we are given ample opportunities to be set up for success, but the balance between success and friendship must be found in order not to lose a sense of self.
Education for high schoolers today is, of course, heavily focused on academics, and we are pushed to meet A-G requirements to be most prepared to enter university. If we take on the point of view of Twilight, however, balancing academics and reliable connections, not only would a student be more equipped for entering larger social systems like college, but a better asset to someone’s business when finding a job. When writing a resume, people often include their roles in the community, whether it be community service, a leadership role in a club, or involvement in a school’s program like Los Osos’s Grizzly Achievement, ASB, or student government.
“My Little Pony” may be a show targeted for little children, but it offers a great point of view on all events of change. It presents how to accept what challenges one faces as well as what it means to be a good companion in such challenges. These lessons offer imperative characteristics to carry throughout small-scale relationships, academic goals, and job opportunities.