High School Memories

by Lisa

I went to my 20th high school reunion this weekend. What an absolute blast!! Amazing how some people change so much in 20 years, while others stay basically the same. I was able to pick out some people right away, but there were others that made me grateful for the required name tags! It was so nice to hook back up with some of my old friends. It seems like you can just pick up right where you left off with some of them. There were definitely those I couldn’t wait to see, and others I was hoping wouldn’t attend, but reconnecting with those who impacted my young life really was a lot of fun.

High school was an awesome experience for me. I really loved the social aspect of it. The school work, classes, teachers, and the rules ... not so much. But unlike most people, I pretty much already knew who I was in high school. There was drama, of course, but I didn’t let it effect me like some did. Now I’m not saying I didn’t make my share of mistakes, create my share of drama, or break my share of hearts, I did. I was, let’s say “infamous”, in high school. I was definitely NOT one of the “in” crowd. All I’m saying is that my core personality was pretty firmly established. The who I am today was well on it’s way. I pretty much let everything roll off my back, and let people say and do what they wanted. I didn’t let it effect my attitude or my belief in myself, too much.

I’ve been to all of my high school reunions, and I’ve watched people make huge life changes and come back to show everyone. Some of these people I was secretly rooting for, and smiling proudly at their accomplishments. Others just made me sad that they still feel so defined by their classmates opinions, no matter what they’ve accomplished since graduation. It’s sad to me that some let others negatively impact them so profoundly, that they carry that with them for the rest of their lives.

If I could get one message out to the youth of today, it would be that high school really does end, and then life happens to everyone. The popular girls gain weight, and the popular boys go bald, same as everyone else. Don’t let the drama or the nonsense get to you. One day EVERYONE will go through this thing called life. All of its ups AND downs. Don’t let the people in those short 4 years of your life dictate who you are, or who you will become. Be who you are, and be proud of it.

It’s also amazing to me how the same experience can be remembered so differently. As I was reminiscing with old friends, the stories abounded. What was so funny was how one person would remember one thing, and another wouldn’t. Sometimes not even after the story was told. Strange how one moment can become so locked in one person’s mind, while others experiencing that same moment forget it completely. There were so many things I had forgotten that came rushing back to me with shared stories. So many good times and people to remember fondly.

What’s funny too, is that there seems to always be those who don’t want to go to their reunions. They think they’re dumb, or that no one will remember them, or even care if they don’t come. What I discovered is that SOMEONE will always want to see you. Chances are, it’s the last person you think it is, too. There is ALWAYS someone who will miss you, and at least one person, really looking forward to seeing you. The other discovery is that everyone really is just looking for those familiar faces they remember from their school days. Past grievances are forgiven, mostly forgotten, and a feeling of kinship remains. While the cliques and groups quickly reappear, their boundaries are much more blurred than they were in high school. It seems almost everyone is just glad to see almost everyone else.

I highly recommend attending your next high school reunion. If nothing else, it’s fun to see who changed, and who didn’t. It’s also interesting to see who attends. I found it surprising that just about as many of the “partiers” and “bad” kids showed up as the “scholars” and “good” kids. All in all, it was a most enjoyable weekend filled with laughter, old friends and fond memories.

Life changes us all. It’s our choices and our chosen paths that define us, not the kids who threw gum in your hair in history class, or gave you a wedgie in gym! You have the power to become anything you want to, no matter what age you decide to get started! Define yourself. Become who you want to be.

Until next time....

Lisa
:0)

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