20 Reasons Why You Should Go to Your High School Reunion
It’s so hard to believe that 20 years ago, I graduated from high school! Ack! That’s literally two decades ago. Holy crap! Two decades and one blended family later, here I am – ready to attend my 20 Year High School Reunion. Damn, I FEEL like I SOUND like I’m OLD!! Anyone else have that feeling? Ha ha!
I had the intention to go to my 10 year high school reunion and was really excited about it. However, my family at the time ended up transferring to Seattle and it was hard to attend. I was so glad that I was able to catch up with one of my close high school friends a few years prior. She was traveling through California with her family and had her two children. I introduced her to my first little guy (I’m holding him in the picture below).
Christina J and Me with our kids in Nipomo, California in 2004
As I mentioned, my last “big” high school reunion was 10 years ago, but I was living in Seattle and was pregnant, as well as crazy busy with a preschooler and toddler in tow. While I somewhat wanted to go to my reunion, it just wasn’t feasible. I was happy to be able to reunite with a few friends from high school here and there.
Me and Lauren F in Morro Bay in July 2010
George B and Me at Ventura County Fair in August 2010
Me and Marsha K at Olive Garden in Santa Maria, California in February 2011
January D and Me at Mimi’s Cafe in Bakersfield, California in July 2012
However, now that my kids are older and I live in the same state as the reunion, I’m excited to be going with my husband. I’ve had feelings going back and forth about the reunion, such as, “Will anyone even remember me?” “Was I mean to anyone in high school?” “Who else is going?” “Will people be friendly?” “Is it going to be awkward?” “What do we have in common?” “Who has kids?” “Who’s on social media?” “Will there be alcohol?” Apparently, I’m not the only one with those feelings. These feelings are what inspired me to dig deeper and look for 20 Reasons Why You Should Go To Your High School Reunion.
20 Reasons Why You Should Go to Your High School Reunion
1 – Catch up with old friends. I’m excited about reconnecting with the friends I had in high school and catching up with them. I don’t know about them, but a lot has happened in 20 years for me!
2 – Dance like a teenager. I can’t wait to see what the DJ starts playing at our 20 year reunion! Maybe some “Macarena” or “Jump, Jump.” I know that in our Facebook Group for our reunion, there was a long thread of songs that our high school classmates were listing that they would love to hear at the reunion.
3 – Laugh like a teenager. There aren’t a lot of events that let you relive those awkward teenage years and laugh at them with others who know exactly what you went through because they did too!
4 – The dress code is different. Don’t worry. You don’t have to wear a puffy prom dress, shoulder pads, dyed shoes or big hair, although you can look it and reminisce over pictures where you did!
5 – Meet in real life. I personally am looking forward to hugging and catching up with those friends I had in school. After I graduated, I moved away to live with my dad and stepmom and go to college – about 3 hours north of where I grew up. The internet was not like it is today and I lost contact with a lot of people. I remember catching up with some of my high school friends on Classmates, then MySpace, and finally finding a lot more of them on Facebook. I’m looking forward to reconnecting with those Facebook friends I’ve had for years, but now in real life.
6 – Show off pictures of your kids and family. I don’t know about you, but if people haven’t already seen pictures of my kids and husband, which they probably have since I’m a blogger and active on social media, I can show off pics of my kids…the loves and lights of my life!
7 – Travel. Talk about places you’ve been able to travel to or hear about where your classmates have been able to travel. It’s a great chance to share life’s experiences!
8 – What happened to him or her? Find out what happened to those friends who aren’t around anymore. There will be people who won’t be at the class reunion or who have essentially fallen off the grid. Your high school reunion gives you a chance to find out what happened to those people and dedicate some time to remembering or finding them.
9 – Memorials. Memorialize the memory of those no longer here. I know that they are planning on doing something during our 20 year reunion to remember those students and teachers who are no longer with us.
10 – Who’s changed? See how different people look or how they haven’t changed much now compared to high school.
11 – Where you came from. Show your spouse or significant other where you’re from. I don’t know about you, but whenever I travel down to my hometown with my husband or family, I love to show them the childhood house I grew up in and the schools I went to. If possible, I like to reconnect with family and friends who live in the area.
12 – Aging anyone? At your high school reunion, you can come to terms with aging – ya know…wrinkles, grey hair, etc, etc, etc. Don’t worry…you aren’t the only one going through these life changes.
13 – Get a chance to network. Whether it’s connecting about a job or finding a place to vacation, your reunion offers a great connect to network with those who graduated with you.
14 – Others are probably feeling the same as you. Talking to those who are currently planning our high school reunion, I was amazed to find out that there were actually others who were worried people might not remember who they were. Exactly how I felt!
15 – Common ground. Find things in common with those you didn’t have common ground with in high school. For example, there are classmates I went to school with who I didn’t think I fit in with, but now that we have children and are mothers or parents, I feel like I have a sense of common ground with them – making it easier to connect and chat.
16 – Heal. Whether it’s talking to the class bully face to face 20 years later or apologizing to someone you hurt, a lot of healing can happen at a high school reunion. Forgive and move on. Let it be healing rather than ruining your night.
17 – Enjoy good food. At our high school reunion, we’ll be having some appetizers (Ahi Poke on Wonton Crisps, Grilled Peach Crostini with Goat Cheese, New York Steak Crostini, Caprese Skewers, Swedish Meatballs, and Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Satay) and desserts (Cheesecake with Berries and Mini Beignets).
18 – Enjoy drinks. Whether you’re drinking alcohol or not, enjoy socializing and drinking with those attending the reunion.
19 – Night out without the kids. Not that I don’t love my kids, because I do, it’s nice to be able to go out with my husband and connect with other grownups looking to have a good time!
20 – Biggest one of all – have fun!!! Reconnect with friends, make new friends, eat food, drink, dance and have a great time at your High School Reunion. And of course, don’t forget to take lots of pictures…and share them!
Did you go or will you be going to your High School Reunion?
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My 15 year is this coming weekend and no, I will not be attending. Main reason is that I am recovering from emergency surgery related to the miscarriage I suffered July 5th. Second reason is because it’s on my birthday. I had plans with good, close friends long before the throw – together reunion was decided. My final reason is because when I attended out 5 year, I was humiliated by the same people who are attending our 20th. By our 5 year, I had two kids and was going through a nasty divorce. Most of my classmates had not yet started their families so they were still tiny, in size. I had gained a lot if weight and was ridiculed all the way out the door for it. Ever since, I’ve been working on my self -esteem. It hasn’t been easy but my life has gotten much better. I have two amazing children, an amazing, supportive husband, and heck, I’ve even wrote a book since the 5 year. But I no longer feel that I have anything to prove. I see and keep in regular touch with the people who have always been uplifting in my life and none of them are going to the reunion either. The crowd hosting it made sure to downgrade the 10 year because it was family-oriented versus the drunkfest that this one is claiming to be. Call me old, but life is so much more than that. And I don’t regret for a second that I’ll not be attending!
High school reunions are the best! It’s so much fun to catch up with old friends and see what’s been happening with their lives.
I have been to two so far and loved seeing everyone. I plan on going to the next one in a few years.
To see your best friends of course and to see how everyone has changed and what they are up too. Don’t forget to bring your kids pictures.
My 20 year high school reunion is only a few years away and I was debating on whether to go or not. This post really shines a light on all that reconnecting with old friends has to offer. Thanks!
I attended my 10th reunion and skipped my 20th. It was interesting to see how much everyone had changed.
I just went to my 40th in May and I had a ball! What fun it was to catch up with my HS friends who I hadn’t seen in decades. I will cherish those times forever!
I haven’t gone to any of my high school reunions. We have been to a couple of my husband’s, though.
I’ve honestly never went to my reunion! I graduated 30 years ago. It’s not that I don’t want to go. I live in Upstate NY, and I graduated in Texas, so it’s mostly been a money issue. I’ve kind of adopted my wife’s class (graduated the same year) and we go to hers
These are awesome reasons! It’s easy to keep up with people on Facebook but actually meeting up with everyone again is so much better.
This is a great post, but I don’t know if I want to go back to high school! I wasn’t really involved in my school. My boyfriend at the time went to a different school so I spent most of my time there with those people!
wow, this is a great read next year will be my ten year high school reunion and when i think about it being ten years since i graduated it is beyond crazy and i wasn’t sure if i wanted to go and honestly i do.
All great reasons to go and if the trip was close by all the more reason to catch up. Now that you can see everyone it would be even better to catch up on facebook and other social media.
I have NEVER gone to any of my high school reunions. I have always been a little torn about where I belong though b/c I graduated a year early and never really felt like that was my graduating class. I do get invites to both though.
I need to go to our next high school reunion. I live in the same town as I did where I went to high school but haven’t gone yet. After seeing your photos, I’m going to make the next one.
I went to my 20 year high school reunion in the fall, had reservations about going, and am SO GLAD that I did. It was wonderful to reconnect and I can’t believe that I even considered skipping it. Looks like you had a wonderful time!
It’s funny I was just discussing reunions with my partner and we both aren’t very interested in them. I can see that if you enjoyed school and the people you went to school with it’d be a fun night out. I keep in touch with the people I want too from school and know everything about everyone with FB these days haha. But I do wish I had a nicer experience at school and would want to go!
I did not go to my 20 year, however I am looking to go to my 25th. I am friends with a lot of my classmates on Facebook.
It would be awesome to go to your highschool reunion. It’s definitely loads of fun and you get to see old friends and maybe make new ones from other batchmates. It’s nice that you’re going and I hope you have a great time!
It would be fun to go. If there was ever one nearby, I might be tempted. But I graduated in Belgium (military family) so sometimes it’s overseas, and it’s too far at the moment.
I have never been to any of my reunions.
I switched schools in high school so I do not feel too connected to anyone from either school.
I may go someday but not sure which school’s reunion I would go to lol
I do love your reasons TO go however!
These are great reasons. My high school friends and I are having a mini reunion next week and I am so excited.
I went to mine 5 years ago! It was so good.
I think it’s safe to say that we all experience some kind of anxiety when it comes to anything related to high school, those are our unsure years, the years we experienced new things, experimented with things, lost relationships, built relationships, all while learning a lot academically. Wouldn’t you agree?
In the UK high school reunions aren’t really a thing which is a shame because having left high school almost 10 year’s ago it would be nice to catch up with those people who I don’t see as often x
I am actually really sad that I am missing my 10 year reunion this year. I want to go, but it is at a bad time of the year for me and It is out of state so it just wasn’t in the cards. I do plan on making it to the next one though.
I never was much into reuniting with people. It seems with social media now if there is anyone you want to catch up with you can do it there but I guess there are some who you just can’t find.
I haven’t gone to any high school reunions. I love that we have social media now to keep in touch with old friends from school.
I am going to my 50th in September. It’s hard to believe I am that old. I have been to a couple. My problem is social anxiety disorder which didn’t have a name way back then other than shyness. So, I didn’t really know most of those people except in passing. But, I look forward to seeing them and hope that I can conquer my fears and join in now.
I think anyone should totally go especially since you’ll get to feel young again! Lol. I think it’s an amazing time to catch up with people! I love that you also mentioned healing. It’s good to finally talk to the people who used to cause you a lot of pain.
I love reunions. I had a ton of fun with all my high school friends.
I didn’t go to my 10 year reunion either. I haven’t thought about the next one, but I should definitely go. I see a lot of my high school friends online, but not in real life.
I am honestly not a big reunion person. I didn’t go to my 10 and can’t really see me go to any. Maybe if I mainly to 50. 😂
I haven’t been to my high school reunions and I don’t know if I will ever go. I don’t keep in touch with anyone from my high school except via FB. I definitely get why people go or want to go. Maybe someday I will change my mind.
I missed my 10-year high school reunion so I was set on going to my 20th. Which is crazy, that I have been out of school that long. We had a free event and then the next night they had a huge dinner. It was out of my budget so I just went to the free event. There wasn’t a huge turn out but it was nice catching up with those that did show up.
Healing I think is a big one when it comes to high school reunions. Many people hold onto the past and it’s healthy to move on.
I had a different reaction to my school reunion. While I am glad I went, I will not be going to any others. I think I just realized how I have ZERO in common with any of the people there anymore. We did move 6000 miles away though so totally differently life culturally now.
I missed mine. But my husband is going to his next week! I will be tagging along. Can’t wait
I just spoke to a friend a few weeks ago about how amazing it would be to have a 10th year high school reunion. Now you’ve given me 20 more reasons to why. Maybe I can sell the idea to a few friends about hosting one.
You should definitely go! It’s all about having fun with the people you used to spend everyday with! I’m sure it’s going to be interesting and exciting!
I missed my 10 year reunion a few years ago due to living across the country and am okay with that. 😉 Maybe I’ll go to the next one. Always fun to have an excuse for a night out away from the kiddos. 🙂
I think the high school reunions are fun. At mine however, we are all definitely starting to age now. We look like grandmas and grandpas (and most of us are). 😉 Love the list!!
Oh yeah. I love going to our high school reunions. It always bring back old loving and fun memories.
We still haven’t had a high school reunion but I think it would really be fun to go and catch up with everybody.
You are so cute and I think it’s great you want to be connected to friends you knew in high school. I, on the other hand, grew up in a really small town, and really have no desire to attend my 20 year reunion coming up shortly.
I went to high school in Florida but moved back to Canada shortly after. Due to the distance, I didn’t get to go to my 10th-year reunion. Maybe if they have a 20th-year reunion, I will go. Would be fun to see some of the old friends that I went to school with.
I attended our high school reunion a few years back. It was really fun to reconnect with those girls. We now have a Facebook group page where we keep ourselves abreast of what’s going on in each other’s lives. Funny to know though, that most already grandmothers too. .
My 20th is next month and I’m planning to go (although it may be cancelled due to lack of interest). I’m a little apprehensive since it doesn’t appear that many of my friends are going.
I’m going to my 35-year reunion this month. I went to a 5-year reunion and didn’t attend again (for various reasons) until the 30-year. In a way, it’s sad, because it reminds me how few friends I had in high school; most of the ones I had were in the class behind mine.