Top 10 on the 10th: Top 10 Disney Moments That Teach Students They Can Do Hard Things
The school year is just getting started. New routines are forming, schedules are settling, and the back-to-school energy is either exciting, overwhelming, or a little bit of both. Students are adjusting. You’re adjusting. And somewhere in the middle of all the fresh starts, new expectations, and big feelings, kids are still being asked to show up, try hard, and do things that feel really, really big.
So let's talk about that through the lens of the greatest storytellers who ever lived.
Because Disney? Disney has been quietly teaching kids how to do hard things for decades.
Here are 10 moments that hit differently when you're a school counselor.
1. Moana Returns the Heart
She didn't have a map. She didn't have training. She had self-doubt, a very unhelpful demigod, and a calling she couldn't ignore.
The lesson: Sometimes doing the hard thing means going anyway, even when you're not sure you're ready.
2. Miguel Stands Up for His Dream
His entire family said no. Tradition said no. The rule was clear. And still, Miguel chose to believe in himself, even when it cost him.
The lesson: Standing up for who you are is one of the bravest, hardest things there is.
3. Tiana Keeps Working
Tiana didn't get a fairy godmother moment. She got setbacks, heartbreak, and a restaurant that kept slipping out of reach. She kept going anyway.
The lesson: Hard work isn't always glamorous, and doing hard things often means getting back up more than once.
4. Marlin Learns to Let Go
Marlin crossed the entire ocean to protect Nemo. And then he had to learn the hardest lesson of all: trusting his kid to handle things on his own.
The lesson: Sometimes the hard thing isn't the task, it's the belief. In yourself. In someone you love.
5. Joy Learns That Sadness Has a Purpose
Joy spent almost the entire movie trying to keep Sadness from touching anything. She was wrong. Sadness was the one who knew what Riley actually needed.
The lesson: Doing hard emotional work, letting yourself feel the hard feelings, is one of the hardest things we do.
6. Remy Believes He Belongs in the Kitchen
A rat. In a five-star Paris restaurant. Every single thing about the situation said this isn't for you. He showed up anyway.
The lesson: You belong in spaces that feel scary. Don't let doubt make that decision for you.
7. Mirabel Finds Her Worth Without a Gift
Every single person in her family had a magical gift. Every single person except her. And she still saved the family with love, with courage, with herself.
The lesson: You don't have to be the most talented person in the room to do something that matters.
8. Ian Takes One Brave Step at a Time
Ian couldn't see the road ahead of him. Literally. He had to cast the spell one step at a time, trusting that the ground would appear.
The lesson: You don't have to see the whole path. You just have to take the next step.
9. Judy Hopps Pushes Through Every Doubt
The academy. The parking beat. The case no one thought she could handle. Judy heard "you can't" approximately one thousand times and turned it into fuel.
The lesson: Doing hard things often means proving something first to yourself, then to everyone else.
10. Sulley Realizes Fear Isn't the Answer
The whole system was built on scaring kids. It seemed like the only way. And then Sulley discovered that laughter was something completely different, something better was possible all along.
The lesson: Sometimes doing the hard thing means letting go of the way it's always been done and finding a better way forward.
The Counselor Clubhouse Takeaway
Every single one of these characters had a moment where the hard thing felt impossible. Where the path was unclear, the doubt was loud, and turning back seemed like the only option.
They didn't turn back.
And neither did you.
Think about it, you showed up every single week this year. You navigated the schedule changes, the crisis calls, the "can you just real quick" moments, the kids who needed more than one try, and the days where nothing went according to plan.
You did hard things. Repeatedly. Without a magic gift, a glowing heart, or even a decent amount of prep time.
That's the Mirabel energy. The Judy Hopps energy. The Tiana energy.
And your students? They watched you model exactly what you've been teaching them all year.
So as you head into summer, take a breath, take the win, and know that the work you did this year mattered more than you'll ever fully see.
You made it to the end of the ride
Whenever you're ready to start next year with intention, my Storybook SEL Lessons will be here waiting, no rush, no pressure. Just good tools for when the time is right.
Counselor Clubhouse does not claim to represent The Walt Disney Company in any way and is not employed by or affiliated with The Walt Disney Company.
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