high school confidential - lauren and cappie's stories

Last night was the premiere of WE tv's original series, High School Confidential. The creators of the documentary have promised to reveal the triumphs and struggles of 12 high school girls during their four years at Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas.

And while I can't speak for the rest of the series, the first episode delivered on its promise — showing a raw, unscripted account of two girls from freshman year to graduation.

The first, Lauren, was the average good girl — a friend of everyone, a member of the drill team and Homecoming royalty. But life wouldn't always deal her a hand of perfection. During her junior year, Lauren was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

While her parents fought to be strong, Lauren was surprisingly calm. After finding that the growing tumor wasn’t cancerous, Lauren's doctors still advised that she undergo surgery to remove it. Cameras followed as she recovered, complete with a new appreciation for life.

The second girl, Cappie, entered Northwest saying she felt no pressure about sex, drugs or alcohol. But within a couple of years, Cappie and her best friend had become known as "party girls."

In an interview, Cappie's mother showed concern about her daughter's lack of girlfriends. She said that when she was in school, girls who hung out with a lot of guys were considered "loose." Her voice trailed off as she seemed to realize the same might be true for her daughter, and with that, she said she didn't want to discuss it anymore.

Describing herself as "partied out," Cappie changed her ways as an upperclassmen, focusing less on partying and more on studying to get into The University of Kansas.

But along with the party habit, Cappie also lost most of her friends. Her partying boyfriend was now her ex, leaving Cappie without the mutual friends they once had. And against her better judgment, she began dating her best friend’s ex-boyfriend, again losing a friend in the process.

Some may criticize the show’s producers for not getting close enough to the girls (the footage showed more one-on-one interviews and less of everyday life). But the camera's unobtrusiveness also allowed them to capture real moments — Cappie's uninhibited friends getting drunk, Lauren smiling through her tears as her mom held her in the hospital.

What do you think? See for yourself by watching High School Confidential, airing on WE tv, Mondays at 10 p.m.

XOXO,
Karen
CG! Editorial Intern