Season after season, fans are captivated by new generations of students and their stories.  As the viewer, you are on the other side, peering into the dramatic bubble that is Degrassi Community School.  Over the years, you may develop strong affiliations with the characters as you learn more about them, and how their character’s life may relate to your own.  One of the beautiful parts of the Degrassi saga, is that it depicts the stories of stereotypical teenagers.  Not necessarily out of this world whack jobs (with the exception of one Imogen Moreno) that you’d NEVER find in a typical high school setting, but the real sub groups of teens you might see walking around your own high school.
From the beginning of a Degrassi school year, new characters are introduced as one extreme personality; completely reminiscent of whatever stereotype they are representing in a population of high schoolers.  According to former Degrassi star Charlotte Arnold, the characters become more dimensional over a period of time, and their personalities are written more toward the direction of the actor’s personality, giving the character more depth.  For example, Holly J went from former ice queen, HBIC, to a maternal, understanding, less stable, terminally ill Holly J!  The girl did a complete 360 during her high school years.  I think it’s safe to say that Degrassi characters pretty much ALWAYS end up becoming the complete opposite, or drastically different, from what they started as.

 Clare Edwards

Clare started out her niner days as an overly conservative, disciplined, slightly awkward young lady who once exclaimed, and I quote, “school is for learning.”  These days, we’ve seen a new side of Clare Edwards.  From neck biting, having a relationship with an unstable goth, to dating her step brother, her character has definitely done a 360!  The sudden change in Clare didn’t just come out of nowhere.  The recent events in her life have all added to her character’s “flaws.”  Dealing with the finalization of her parent’s divorce, a tragic break up with your first love, and a traumatic experience with a Clare-obsessed Fitzy will definitely do it!

Holly J. Sinclair

Holly J Sinclair entered Degrassi as a transfer from Lakehurst after the tragic fire.  Sister of Heather Sinclair, captain of the cheer squad, contender for student body president, HJ was definitely a force to be reckoned with.  Former ice queen, famous for the “I Hate Holly J” scandal (one of the few incidents we actually appreciated Alli Bhandari for) turned softy toward the end of her reign at Degrassi.  Of course she remained student body pres, an active leader with a bright Yale impeded future…but HJ went through some MAJOR changes over the years.  Let’s be real here, the girl used to verbally abuse her BFF Anya, and tortured students like Mia for being a teen mother.  The HJ we know in later seasons is still an HBIC, but she’s warm and nurturing…she has a heart.  What melted those ice caps?  Perhaps her family’s decline in socioeconomic status?  Perhaps it was the fatal kidney disease she was faced with during her senior year, and oh yes, that little incident where she found out she was ADOPTED!

Anya McPherson

Former minion of Holly J Sinclair, Anya began her days at Degrassi a lost bird.  She couldn’t really stand on her own two feet, and she didn’t really know who she was for a while…as a matter of fact..neither did we!  Does anyone remember that time Anya had dyslexia?  For a hot minute in Perino’s class, and the lovely Holly J made fun of her for it!  I actually think that was something we would’ve enjoyed seeing more of, but as Anya’s character developed more, we got to know her as the dependable good girl.  Good grades…good morals…good crank addictions.  Wait, what?!  Oh yeah, that’s right!  Good girl-gone bad, McPherson did a TOTAL 360 in her senior year of high school.  The girl hooked up with Degrassi’s bad-boy gone softy, Owen Milligan, picked up a couple of skanky friends, and sent her future up her nose. That’s right!  And let’s not forget her rendezvous with Dr. Chris, (who now resides somewhere in Africa…probably accompanied by Darcy Edwards) her mother’s doctor!  Could Anya’s mother’s cancer be to blame for her sudden plummet?  Did the cold shoulder she received from Dr. Chris push her off the edge?  All we have to say is…”Saving Private McPherson”…who saw THAT one coming?!

Have you guys got more examples of Degrassi Transmigration?  Submit your ideas below!