Yin Chang; Photo: Richard Foreman Jr., SMPSP © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

While prom’s a night when an ordinary girl slips on an elegant gown, it’s actually not that simple. Prom means so much more than the dress. It’s the flowers, the hair, the makeup, and the date. It’s that last hurrah before you finish your life as a high schooler and move onto an adult-like life (well, as adult-like as college can be, anyway). So when Disney released Prom this year, thousands of girls tuned in to see their dreams portrayed on-screen. We were lucky enough to chat with Yin Chang, the young star who plays Mei, a senior torn between her boyfriend and her ideal college. Yin gave us the nitty-gritty about her high school experience (including her own prom), her advice for teen girls, and how waiting for the right guy is better than floating from boy to boy.

Chang and Jared Kusnitz; Photo: Richard Foreman Jr., SMPSP © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ELLEgirl (EG): Tell us a little about Prom‘s story and your character.

Yin Chang (YC): It’s such a refreshing coming-of-age movie. We have a huge ensemble cast, and everyone was represented: the quirky loner, the perfect couple, the class president, the prom queen. No matter who’s watching it, everyone will latch onto one character. [My character] Mei Kwan is a senior and artistically gifted. She and her boyfriend Justin have been together, with plans to go to the same college, live together, and own a dog together (laughs). Conflict comes in when there’s a bump in the road and I’m presented with an opportunity that will affect the relationship for sure. That’s a little exciting thing.

EG: So what was your school experience like? Was it similar to your character’s?

YC: Definitely different, I prefer the Prom version over mine. Mine was really drama filled; there was so much drama, it wasn’t like Disney at all. I wish I had a more Mei Kwan experience, really laid back. [In reality] I was a social butterfly; I went from group of friends to the next group of friends trying to find who I was.

EG: Did you go to prom? Who was your date?

YC: I never had a date to prom, it was fun! I actually didn’t honestly really want to go, but my friends encouraged me to go to share that experience together. It was not as fun as Disney’s prom, but I made my own dress for [mine]; that was fun.

EG: What would an ideal prom look like to you?

YC: Chill with no drama kind of thing—I like it laid back. The prom I had in Disney prom was so laid back, it was that milestone that you celebrate with all the kids and you went to school with and went along with. It’s definitely an experience that a lot of people would love. I hope it sets an example for younger kids, too. Not all proms have booze  all the time, no. That’s not real life. Yes it happens but it also doesn’t. It’s innocent times celebrating with friends and dancing. I’m glad it shows and represents good role models in society.

Kusnitz and Chang; Photo: Richard Foreman Jr., SMPSP © Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

EG: With Prom set in high school, it does dives into the harder issues that surround many teens. What do you think is the biggest obstacle teens face in high school, and what advice do you have to overcome this?

YC: A lot of it—really the core—is finding out who they are. [High-schoolers] aren’t confident yet; they don’t know what group they belong in. What they want to do in their future? I’ve graduated college, but sometimes even though I’m an actress, I wonder what I’m going to do with my life. The best advice is just be confident with you who are.  Don’t let people take advantage of you and step all over you. What do I really want in life? You’ve got to think, “How would I be happy doing that? Will my parents approve and my family approve?” That’s what I think about when I make choices. Latch onto one little thing that you’d love to do and you think you’d be happy for the rest of your life and that’s usually what will help you.

EG: Soon enough kids will be back in school. What’s the best thing about this time of year?

YC: To be honest, when I was in high school it was mixed feelings. I was like, “Aw man, summer break is over. I’ve got to start again.” The other half would get excited: I’d get my hair done, wear my best clothes. I wanted to go back with a pow! You’re excited cause you want to see your friends again and the rest of the students. I used to get really excited about my new classes, and what the curriculum was going to be like.

EG: What was your favorite part about high school? Least favorite?

YC: Favorite part, my friends. At the end I found who my true friends were and they were really there for me, I’m still friends with them now. They really made my high school experience really fun and something to look forward to. The least favorite would be if I didn’t get along with some people; I wasn’t looking forward to seeing them in school.

EG: What’s different about high school boys versus middle schoolers or college guys?

YC: Middle school boys shouldn’t even be doing anything in the first place, they’re way too young. I do think high school kids are a bit young to be dating, but they’re going to do what they’re going to do. I feel like boys will be boys. Sometimes you’d think high school boys are always thinking about girls, but a lot of boys are really into sports and hanging with guy friends. I see it with Facebook and the way they talk to each other. There are tons of boys out there who are obsessed with girls though. I just want to tell the girls to be careful and think before you do anything. Be strong, and ask yourself, would you regret it a few day, month or years later? Honestly, girls just wait til you’re in college or after. Don’t get too serious at a young age. Enjoy your job and friends. In college, date around, see what you like and don’t like, and how you should be treated.

EG: What advice do you have for girls about to enter their first year of high school?

YC: Don’t let anyone change you to fit with a crowd. I went through that in high school and I wish I would have stayed true to myself. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t. It wasn’t healthy and I wasn’t happy. Be who you are and always put school first. You’re learning, you want to have a good future. Always take advantage of the opportunities as much as you can. I learned from my mistakes and I wish I could take advantage of all the after-school activities.  My little sisters are in every sport imaginable and they’re basically the best players and also the top in their class. They’re optimizing every opportunity they have.

Disney’s Prom is out on Blu-ray and DVD on August 30, so pick up a copy to watch Yin Chang and the rest of the crew!