Students recount memories and lessons learned from old TV shows

Sophomore Raina Kolluri, then 7, sat in front of her television with her eyes glued to the screen. She laughed as she watched a teenaged Hilary Duff in the classic Disney sitcom, “Lizzie McGuire,” a show involving a young girl nicknamed Lizzie, her friends, Gordo and Miranda, and their junior high shenanigans.

“Lizzie McGuire” first aired on Jan. 12, 2001, and ended on Feb. 14, 2004, after 65 episodes. Although it ran for only two seasons, “Lizzie McGuire” captivated young audiences everywhere.

“The show was really relatable because I got to experience her school troubles with her,” said Kolluri, who also experienced her own elementary school struggles at the time.

Kolluri said her favorite episode was the last one of the series, entitled the “Magic Train,” because it revealed Lizzie’s true feelings for her close friend Gordo, a boy she had known since she was a baby. Kolluri felt that the show “was really cute” because of the romance between the two friends.

Junior Yasmeen Mardi, who currently attends Middle College program at West Valley, is also a huge fan of “Lizzie McGuire,” and began watching it at age 4 with her older sister.

“I’d watch the things [my older sister] did because I wanted to be like her, which turned out fine for me since I loved the show as well,” she said.

Mardi began to enjoy the show after deciding that “Lizzie McGuire” was different from most shows at the time, as the show incorporated situational humor and the actors performed well.

“Everything seemed so ideal that you’re naturally drawn to it,” she said. “Hilary Duff was a huge icon at the time so every little girl wanted to be like her.”

In addition to “McGuire,” Mardi especially enjoyed the Disney sitcom, “That’s So Raven,” a show that follows the life of a psychic teenage girl.

Although Mardi was only 5 when she began watching the show in 2003, she said it heavily impacted her life.

In fact, when the show played at the end of April this year on ABC Family, Mardi “almost died of excitement.”

“The reason I love the show is it makes you go through an emotional roller coaster because of the hilariousness,” she said. “I have a soft spot for humor.”

During one of Mardi’s favorite episodes, Raven, the main character, dances to her favorite song, which is similar to Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” and can’t control her movement.

“Now, whenever a song I love comes on, I always say, ‘That’s my jam!’ like Raven does,” Mardi said.

As a high schooler, Mardi even performs the dance to “Crazy in Love” because she finds it so hilarious.

Mardi credits her attachment to the show to the fact that “That’s So Raven” was the first TV series that managed to sustain her interest.

“My obsession is more of a creation of memories that are linked to watching that show and the happiness and hilariousness that I’ve experienced and developed because of it,” Mardi said.