Can a bucket list save a friendship before the transition to high school?
In short: When CJ Martin learns that middle school friendships often dissolve before high school, she refuses to accept that fate. Alongside her two lifelong companions and a supportive guidance counselor, she embarks on a quest to complete 100 challenges, hoping to solidify their bond before the social landscape shifts forever.
Created by Scott Fellows, the Nickelodeon series 100 Things to Do Before High School follows the journey of three best friends navigating the final two years of middle school. The protagonist, 12-year-old CJ Martin, is spurred into action after her older brother, Ronbie, warns her that friendships frequently collapse as students drift toward different interests. Determined to defy this trend, CJ drafts a bucket list of 100 experiences to share with her friends, Fenwick Frazier and Christian Powers, before they graduate.
The trio is supported by Jack Roberts, the school guidance counselor, who frequently assists them in navigating their challenges by identifying creative loopholes. The group dynamic is defined by their distinct personalities: Fenwick, a loyal but cautious seventh-grader who has known CJ since kindergarten; and Crispo, who remains devoted to CJ after she saved him from a choking incident years earlier. Despite his newfound status as the school's most popular boy, Crispo prioritizes his loyalty to his friends over social climbing.
The series premiered on November 11, 2014, and concluded its run on February 27, 2016. Throughout the show, the friends face various obstacles, including the schemes of the popular and possessive Mindy Minus, who persistently attempts to win Crispo’s affection. While the show captures the lighthearted nature of middle school, it centers on the underlying anxiety of growing up and the effort required to maintain childhood connections amidst the pressures of adolescence.
The show’s production history saw a staggered rollout, beginning with an hour-long pilot in late 2014, followed by a sneak preview in May 2015 and a regular schedule starting in June 2015. It eventually reached international audiences, airing in regions including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Although the series was eventually canceled, it remains a narrative exploration of the transition between childhood and the more complex social environment of high school.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 100 Things to Do Before High School
- Also: Wikidata — 100 Things to Do Before High School, season 1 · CC0
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