billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jun 13, 2014 9:26:23 GMT -5
The "cool kids" thread made me wonder, why do people hold onto high school? I have never gone to a reunion and am in contact with zero people from that now forty year ago era of my life. Curious on other people's perspective on this.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 9:30:18 GMT -5
I've never gone to any of my reunions either and I still live in my hometown, so it's not like I would have had to travel to them. My 25th was like 5 miles from my house. Now, my Mom still gets together with all her high school friends, now almost every week because they put together a biking group that goes out on a different state trail every Monday and stop somewhere for lunch. I'm thinking her entire class was maybe only 30 or 40 students and a lot of them have passed away now, but they typically have around 15 meet up every week. They enjoy it, so if it makes them happy, it's all good. My class was 435 students and I probably only was friends with 10 of them.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 9:34:09 GMT -5
High school and the horrible memories it gave me, is a part of my life that I've never hung onto. I have been to none of the reunions. I think many hang onto the parts of their lives that gave them enjoyment, defined who they were and gave them the attention they needed. Later, having a family did that for me. That is what I've hung onto.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Jun 13, 2014 9:39:10 GMT -5
I went to my 10 year and have not been to one since.
I graduated 32 years ago so I immagine there have been quite a few. LOL.
I am FB friends with quite a few from HS, but I really don't care if I see them or not, I am not going to spend hundreds of $ to get together with them. I would probably show up for a bike ride or a hike though, that's a great idea.
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tractor
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Post by tractor on Jun 13, 2014 9:39:40 GMT -5
The friends I made in high school are still my friends to this day. I think there is something about changing from a child to a "man" during that time period that allows you to form done pretty tight bonds. I had several girlfriends in high school, and most are still friends with me. After we all went to college, getting passing grades took presidence over maintaining a social life so I really didn't make many friends there.
I think deep down we all know high school sucked at the time, but when you look back it's hard not to get a warm fuzzy feeling about the " good old days ". Would I want to go back? Hell no, but it's fun to dwell on what I could have done differently and think about how different my life would be now if I had.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jun 13, 2014 9:52:29 GMT -5
I graduated 14 years ago and didn't go to my 10 year reunion. I have reacquainted myself with some high school friends via Facebook and that's good enough for me. It's nice to see that people I have zero ill-will toward are doing well in life. There were 800+ in my graduating class. Obviously I didn't know everyone but over the years I've seen people I recognized and said hi.
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The Home 6
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Post by The Home 6 on Jun 13, 2014 10:01:54 GMT -5
I missed my 10 year reunion, and I will most likely miss all future ones. I am always going to live a significant distance away from my hometown, and though my high school was small (less than 60 in my graduating class), I was not one of the 'cool kids'. I have received and accepted friend requests on Facebook from 5 or so people from my graduating class, but rarely interact with them. Ironically, my mom mentions that people from back home ask about me often, though. Weird, huh?
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Jun 13, 2014 10:02:55 GMT -5
I have never been to any of my HS reunions. There's one in the works for July, but I probably won't go. Even though I still live in the same area, there is only one classmate that I run into occasionally.
OTOH, my former dentist and I went to the same parochial school, then she went to public HS and I went to the regional Catholic school. Every six months, when I went in for a cleaning, she mentioned what a great experience the public school was, and how it broadened her horizons, and seemed to think all the Catholic school taught was psalms ("Oh, you probably didn't learn anything about European history, did you?"). All I could think was that I left HS behind X years ago, and apparently she didn't.
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The Captain
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Post by The Captain on Jun 13, 2014 10:05:24 GMT -5
I was actually thinking about this last night. We have a 30yr reunion coming up next year and I'm trying to figure out if I'll go.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jun 13, 2014 10:07:37 GMT -5
I didn't go to my 5, 10 or 15 year reunions. But I will most likely go to my 20 year reunion seeing as it's being held in the city I live in I might as well go. 5 year I lived in Alaska and had a new born. 10 year I was in California and 15 year was moving back from CA to MN.
I don't hold any ill will toward anyone from high school Some people were annoying but it never really bothered me. Most everyone is facebook friends now and interact like normal adults. The "cool kids" write Happy Birthday on the "nerdy" kids wall and vice versa. I'm sure there are still "cliques" and that but at this point everyone is grown up, mostly married, mostly with kids, and mostly working. Adulthood the great equalizer?
Our city has 50,000 people in it. I run in to people from HS on a regular basis. One of my driver's is married to a girl I graduated with and she cleans our office (SAHM) so I talked to her yesterday. There are 3 or 4 former classmates who are parents to DS' classmates so I see them around the school. One of my best friends from HS and I reconnected a few years ago and added another girl from our class to our group. We all just had dinner together on Wednesday and go on a "Girls Weekend" twice a year with a big group of our mutual friends.
There were 280 kids in my graduating class.
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justme
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Post by justme on Jun 13, 2014 10:08:49 GMT -5
People always want to hold on to the good/best times of the life. And some people are at the top of the world during high school and want to keep holding on to it. Others had a meh/crappy/horrible time and want to move as far away from it and not relive all of that stuff.
I fall into the latter. All high school was to me was a big hurdle until I could actually live my life. It's 10 years after I graduated this year, and I have no idea if they're doing a reunion (wouldn't be surprised if someone forgot considering the idiots voted into class president etc). But I don't really care because I wouldn't go anyways. Would have loved to go to the one for 2 years ago...I had a lot of friends in that class I lost touch with.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 10:09:49 GMT -5
I went to my 25 year reunion. It was fun to be in a room where everyone was my age. I realised that hadn't happened for me since high school. It was fun to see what had become of everyone, well at least the ones that showed up. High school wasn't traumatic for me. I wasn't the most popular kid in school but I wasn't the least liked either. Just average. There are kids from then I still see cause they still live in my parents home town and a couple I keep in touch with because we are BFF's.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jun 13, 2014 10:14:38 GMT -5
Funny story? The girl planning our 20 year reunion ran into my son and I at Target. I haven't seen her in 20 years and did not recognize her. She chased me down the aisle and was like "Sheila? I thought that was you but once I heard you talk I knew for sure it was you! How are you?" My response was "Fine, but I'm sorry- Who are you?" She was like "Monica!" I must have just given her a blank look because she followed up with "we went to high school together.... I'm planning the reunion this summer...." We talked for a few minutes and then I went home to pull out my year book to see her picture back then to jog my memory.
To be fair we didn't hang out in high school or really know each other that well. Was kind of weird that she recognized my voice from 20 years ago. I didn't realize I had a memorable speaking voice. Most people ask me where in Canada I'm from- we live in Minnesota.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Jun 13, 2014 10:19:02 GMT -5
Geez, high school is not even on my radar. It got me where I wanted to go, but I have few fond memories. I could ask the exact same questions about college. Why do some folks live in the past and hang on to those "glory days"? Every year they trek back to the Big U like teenagers and curse over football games. *smh* Or maybe that's just me . . .
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 10:21:16 GMT -5
Geez, high school is not even on my radar. It got me where I wanted to go, but I have few fond memories. I could ask the exact same questions about college. Why do some folks live in the past and hang on to those "glory days"? Every year they trek back to the Big U like teenagers and curse over football games. *smh* Or maybe that's just me . . . I have a friend that still gets together with college buddies for a golfing trip every year and does dinner with his old room mate at least once a year. I envy people that keep friendships going like that.
ETA - Ooops, I forgot to mention that he graduated college about 40 years ago and has moved around with his career.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 13, 2014 10:24:35 GMT -5
I'd go to mine to see if any of my old drama friends are still in town, but whoever organizes them does a VERY crappy job, they pretty much only get ahold of the people they personally know. We had a class of 210 people and according to a person I know at the 5 year reunion only 10 people showed and it was all the organizer's former buddies. He happened to learn about it thru a friend of a friend of a friend via facebook. I THINK I saw a brief flash notice go by on the HS's electronic billboard about a 10 year anniversary back in 2012 but I was driving so didn't really read it. I never heard anything else about it. I'm not too disappointed, I didn't particularly enjoy high school so have no desire to relive my "glory days" by going to a reunion. DH on the other hand loves going to reunions and often talks about how high school was his "glory days" that he wishes he could go back to. I joke it's because he gets to remember the days when he had hair. Dh and I had totally different high school experiences, for him re-living it all is fantastic because he was super popular. I was more of an outsider and my class was HUGE, I barely knew the majority of people I went to high school with. I have no desire to be trapped in a hall with 210 people I barely know, that sounds like hell on earth for me as an introvert I had more friends in the class below me and above me than I did in my own class. I am friends with several people in the class below me on Facebook. So if I was going to go to a reunion I'd go to one of those instead of mine.
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Jun 13, 2014 10:31:51 GMT -5
Our graduating class (specifically Monica) has a facebook profile for "Name of HS, class of 1994" that is friends with nearly everyone in the graduating class. So most of the information about the reunion has gone out through facebook. She did send out a list of people from our class that she was not FB friends with to ask other friends to tell them about the reunion and request they send her "Class of 1994" person a friend request so they would get all the information about the reunion.
Kind of disappointed in the reunion so far. According to again- Monica- some people can't afford to attend anything fancy so we are going to a bar for the reunion. The bar in question isn't charging us a cover for the night because some other classmate bartended there in college. It's in a crappy part of town and there was a shooting there a couple of months ago. There is no food unless you decide to order nachos or wings or something on your own (not 100% sure if they even have a kitchen). No entertainment planned. Just a "hey everyone- show up at this bar on this night for the reunion- PS bring cash if you want to have a drink".
Honestly it seems kind of lame to me but whatever, I'll go because I know a few of my friends will be there.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 10:34:07 GMT -5
I went to my 5th and then to my 40th reunion! I don't have fond memories of HS; I was bookish, didn't flirt, and had discovered feminist literature. I was definitely on the outside.
I mellowed by the time the 40th came around and after joining our class FaceBook page and seeing what others were up to, I felt a lot more comfortable about attending. I genuinely had a good time. Part of it was that I'm really comfortable with where I am. I didn't set the world on fire, I was never a CEO (or C-anything) but I've traveled more than I ever dreamed I would and had a happy marriage and a wonderful son. When the rental car lady at the Cleveland airport issued me a lime-green Ford Fiesta after I turned down "upgrades" to more splendid vehicles, I laughed. Would anyone have been really impressed if I'd shown up in a rented Camaro? I made a point of showing my former classmates my low-budget rental car.
It was interesting to see how things panned out over 40 years. One of the most popular women had been widowed early with 3 kids and was still struggling. Others, though, were doing volunteer work or had other interesting pursuits. The one who aspired to be a doctor WAS a doctor. I was so happy to hear that. Some of the ones who blended into the scenery in HS had had pretty interesting lives. A few were conspicuous by their absence especially since they were local. Overall, it was like meeting a bunch of new people with whom you had a whole lot in common. While I occasionally tangle on FB with an ultra-conservative classmate who has no ability to argue logically, I'll happily attend the next reunion.
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Cookies Galore
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Post by Cookies Galore on Jun 13, 2014 10:35:23 GMT -5
Geez, high school is not even on my radar. It got me where I wanted to go, but I have few fond memories. I could ask the exact same questions about college. Why do some folks live in the past and hang on to those "glory days"? Every year they trek back to the Big U like teenagers and curse over football games. *smh* Or maybe that's just me . . . I married into a family of cult members, er, Penn Staters... no definitely cult members, but anyway... I agree about the weird obsession some people have with their alma mater and football. It's ridiculously annoying. Christ, I graduated college 10 years ago. I don't give a shit.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 10:35:40 GMT -5
I talked to a friend of mine who has been going to the reunions and she told me that the same cool and uncool groups are still hanging together at these events. I guess little has changed.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Jun 13, 2014 10:37:17 GMT -5
I didn't go to my Grade School or High School reunions. I was the kid at Grade School graduation who was RELIEVED to be done with the ordeal - while my classmates were sobbing over each other and promising undying friendship -- I couldn't get away fast enough. I didn't go to the High School reunions either -- I pretty much see the people I hung around with in HS in my every day life, so we wouldn't need to 'catch up'. My HS years were fairly unremarkable and there are some humorous fun things that happened, but they certainly weren't my 'Glory Days' and I don't really feel the need to re-live them. I'm also more of an introvert than an extrovert so going to a reunion to reconnect with people I haven't seen in 10/20 years sounds like an exhausting endeavor - especially since the 'connection' is probably just for the handful of hours we're together. I think for people who like to be with other people and need other people and get warm fuzzies from 're-connecting' even for a few hours - a reunion is exciting and a lot of fun. The real truth of it for me is that, since most people don't change much once they hit their late teens (they are still the basic 'person' at their core they were at that point) - I'm horribly afraid to face the fact that I probably haven't changed much since High School. It makes me feel sad.
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movingforward
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Post by movingforward on Jun 13, 2014 10:38:18 GMT -5
I went to my 10 yr reunion and had a great time but that was it. I didn't go to the 20 yr and I am sure I won't go to any others. I don't keep in contact with anyone I went to high school with. They are on FB but I don't really care about their lives (does that sound bad?). I haven't seen them in years... they aren't part of the my current life... I think this is why I don't really care for FB. The people I really care about I see quite often and we don't need FB to keep in touch. I had a great time in high school but I moved past it quickly - like as soon as I left for college - and haven't really looked back since then.
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Jun 13, 2014 10:42:03 GMT -5
I wonder if it depends on how you view your high school years? I LOVED my high school years, had a blast every single day. I had a huge group of friends and we went through so much together. We are now adults (at least in people years ) and most of us are fairly successful so it isn't like those were our "glory years" (though they were great years, it isn't like my life went down hill after).
Most of my high school friends moved away and we all went on with our lives. But about once a year everyone comes in and we all go out together. These are people that were there for me during my formative years...who helped sculpt me into the person I am today (so you can all blame them!lol). We have so much history, memories, etc. How could I not one to keep in touch? And while we all catch up on our current lives, we still talk about all of the funny shit we did and still laugh so hard we bring ourselves to tears.
It makes me sad to read how horrible the high school years were for some of you. I am not sure what makes one person have a blast and another person dread it, but I am certainly glad I was in the "have a blast" column.
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sarcasticgirl
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Post by sarcasticgirl on Jun 13, 2014 10:50:20 GMT -5
I loved high school... and I was extremely close to my friends. They were there for me when my father died my senior year. My closest HS friends are scattered all over the globe so we don't see each other too often unless someone is traveling. I have a few friends that still live around my hometown that I meet up with when I'm in texas.
There aren't many people in my life that knew my dad... or me at that time. So it is kind of special... and I still remember what everyone did and said for me back then. They hold a special place in my heart.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2014 10:54:15 GMT -5
I hated high school so much. I mean couldn't stand it. I actually dropped out halfway through my junior year and later went back and finished through the alternative school (basically tested out). When I left I vowed to never walk in that building again. Well, now I'm facing sending my kids there and I'm having some mental anguish over that. Originally the plan was they would go to the private school starting in 7th grade, but I can't afford that now, so my dreaded alma mater it is.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jun 13, 2014 10:58:53 GMT -5
I went to one high school reunion-my thirtieth (fiftieth coming up in five years). I was less interested in seeing the folks I met in high school than I was in seeing the folks I knew from grammer school who then went to my high school too. As my curiosity was sated, I see no reason to attend another reunion again.
I did though enjoy my time in high school.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Jun 13, 2014 11:01:01 GMT -5
The "cool kids" thread made me wonder, why do people hold onto high school? I have never gone to a reunion and am in contact with zero people from that now forty year ago era of my life. Curious on other people's perspective on this. It's not a case of "holding on" to high school. It's a case of holding on to the friends I made there and the things I learned there. Up until a couple of years ago, I still played softball and volleyball with the same girls I played with in high school. We became great friends then and we are still great friends - friendships forged by knowing one another for years and sharing the ups and downs of our lives.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Jun 13, 2014 11:06:05 GMT -5
Geez, high school is not even on my radar. It got me where I wanted to go, but I have few fond memories. I could ask the exact same questions about college. Why do some folks live in the past and hang on to those "glory days"? Every year they trek back to the Big U like teenagers and curse over football games. *smh* Or maybe that's just me . . . I married into a family of cult members, er, Penn Staters... no definitely cult members, but anyway... I agree about the weird obsession some people have with their alma mater and football. It's ridiculously annoying. Christ, I graduated college 10 years ago. I don't give a shit. We have Penn Staters next door to us. Nice people but WTF? I love college football but I won't kill myself if my team sucks.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 13, 2014 11:07:44 GMT -5
We became great friends then and we are still great friends - friendships forged by knowing one another for years and sharing the ups and downs of our lives. I've known my best friend since 7th grade. I don't feel the need to drop her just because we met when we were 13 and we're both now 30. It has nothing to do with clinging to my school days, we've been together thru a lot of milestones and "grown up" together, you don't toss away that kind of history. I consider it worth hanging onto a friend that knows me so well inside and out.
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gooddecisions
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Post by gooddecisions on Jun 13, 2014 11:12:44 GMT -5
I had a great time in high school and still have friends from high school. I'm not sure I agree that because I had a great experience and have maintained friendships means I'm hanging on like that was the only great time in my life. I had an even better time in college and as a young adult. Now I have the perfect family and have built friendships with other moms in my neighborhood. I've maintained friendships through every stage. It's weird to me that people might see me out with my life long friends or a pic posted on facebook and think I'm clinging to "glory days". Those were not my glory days. My whole life has been glorious.
Hanging onto meaningful friendships does not = hanging onto the past.
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