In this unprecedented television event, we follow 12 diverse girls through their tumultuous and exhilarating high school experience.

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Sharon Liese

Single mother. Independent filmmaker. High school confidant.

As a single mom of a 12-year old daughter, Sharon Liese began exploring a phenomenon experienced by teenage girls: the inescapable struggle to forge an identity while facing pressure to lose her "self." Inspired by personal challenges as a teen, Sharon was sensitive to the chaos and confusion her teenage daughter would face. After surveying the media market for resource materials her creative instincts birthed the idea of chronicling the lives of high school girls in a way never before imagined.

Her first challenge was to convince the school district to provide access and support for the project. After several presentations to District officials, Sharon was granted permission to shoot the docu-series on school property. She then invited incoming freshmen girls to apply for consideration. Approximately 40 girls submitted applications and 25 were interviewed on camera. Fifteen girls were ultimately selected. Sharon crawled inside their skin for four years, resulting in a palpable look at how girls become women.

Sharon is infinitely in awe of the twelve journeys that she witnessed. Young women, parents and educators can learn so much from their stories. Their honest voices reflect the complexities, contradictions and pressures that "play out" over a short four-year period.

Sharon Liese's Blog

In my opinion, a girl's high school years mark one of the most dramatic passages of an entire lifetime. The transformation that occurs over these four seminal years is monumental in terms of physical, emotional and intellectual changes. This metamorphosis from girlhood to womanhood has always intrigued me. But when my daughter, Justine, was on the launch pad, headed for high school, I was inspired to turn my curiosity into a documentary series.

Filming the documentary allowed me to witness the journeys of twelve young women, and at the same time, it gave me a backstage pass to my daughter's high school experience. While Justine and I made the decision early on that she would not be a documentary participant, she attended the same school as those who did participate and was actually in their graduating class.

Early in the journey, I was personally moved by the courage it took for each young woman to commit to such a long and self-revealing project. None of us knew what we would discover, but we all took the leap together. People ask if I am surprised that High School Confidential became so big. On some level, I always envisioned that the stories would be amazing and that a large audience would be as captivated as I am by them. My initial vision was for this work to be important and enlightening. However, the actual, final shape of each of the stories exceeded my greatest expectations. I am grateful to New Line Television and WE tv for embracing the power of these real life stories.

My greatest hope is that this documentary series will stimulate and encourage much needed dialogue about the process of growing up in today's world. The issues that teenage girls face are enormous. Whether you are in high school now or about to attend your 25th high school reunion, every woman can relate to the mixture of conflicting emotions experienced during that transitional time. I hope moms and daughters, dads and daughters, family and friends, watch the episodes together and discover new insights about themselves and their relationships. I also hope that each young woman who participated feels a deep sense of pride and empowerment knowing that their stories will impact others they may never even know. I know I am indebted to each High School Confidential member for her dedication and willingness to share her intimate struggles and triumphs. I truly believe that by listening to their voices, we honor their bravery and beauty. I know for me, their fresh wisdom taught me a lifetime of lessons!

I am grateful to Rebel Entertainment Partners, New Line Television and WE tv for embracing the power of these real life stories.

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