She's Not Like Other Girls

    Malia Accardi 

     It's time to introduce (drum roll please) our main character!! Her name is Malia and her storyline will follow the struggles of being a high school senior about to graduate who is not sure what to do with the rest of her life. Her physical characteristics include black hair, brown eyes, tanner skin, and a 5"6 physique. Malia is a 17-year-old girl who is struggling between taking the traditional path and going to college for a well-paying 9 to 5 job, or following her aspirations of being a writer and publishing her own novel. She is a very smart, intellectual character but has never been able to show it. Malia is obviously a complete bookworm and is genuinely sweet but comes off as closed off.

     As for her characteristics that are associated with the coming-of-age genre, her unique aspirations have lowered her standing on the high school social hierarchy, so she tends to keep to herself if she is not with her best friend/confidante. Malia will go through a journey of self-discovery and give up her naivety. Wanting to be a writer has definitely not done her any favors in terms of high school reputation, and part of her struggles have to do with not having the support of being a writer from anyone. Her style can be classified as "quirky" and different from what the other high school girls wear. While she may not be the most popular at high school, her main conflict stems from the uncertainty of the future. Like most female characters in the coming-of-age genre, Malia will undergo an emotional journey where she is forced to be introspective and finally decide what she wants to do for the rest of her life...Oh! and while being an angsty teenager too.

Citations

Kathryn ButtKathryn is an MA graduate in Film and Television from The University of Bristol. After moving from the depths of the countryside. (2021, July 13). What makes a coming-of-age film? (genre series). Raindance. Retrieved February 23, 2022, from https://raindance.org/coming-of-age-genre/