essay on high school reunion

Should You Go to Your High School Reunion?

10 things to consider to make the choice that's right for you..

Posted March 1, 2022 | Reviewed by Devon Frye

"Sure, I'd go to my high school reunion—if I could go as Carrie."

This quip often elicits a laugh, one that's usually followed by a high school horror story that legitimizes the sentiment behind it. (This is not to say that high school was all-around toxic for everyone, but to recognize how fragile many people felt during those years).

As invitations to high school reunions begin appearing in inboxes, uncomfortable emotions may bubble to the surface. Yet in 2022, the prospect of attending your reunion may feel different. Our shared COVID crisis is a new common denominator, one with the potential to offer (re)connection with new dynamics in play. More than a well-worn ice breaker, it offers the possibility of a genuine conversation. This possibility may give you pause before clicking "No, I will not attend."

As you hesitate before declining (knowing from Oprah and Ellen that you should be honest with yourself about any secret hopes you nurture), be wary of disguised aspirations. It is helpful to untangle the pros, cons, and potential triggers that may awaken old wounds (and perhaps renew your desire to attend as Carrie). Thus armed, you can attend as yourself, and maintain your equilibrium. These considerations can help.

• Identify, before you go, what "having a good time" would look like. Getting up the nerve to chat with a former crush? Networking? Introducing your partner to your high school world? Or simply feeling secure (or adventurous) enough to attend just to sate your curiosity? How does s/he look all these years later, and who is doing (and wearing) what?
• Be honest with yourself. While COVID could help level the playing field, it does not promise instant new beginnings. Most people attend their high school reunions, first and foremost, to reconnect with their former friends. Expect that old cliques will re-cohere; that the in-crowd will hang out together and catch up with each other. (Won't you be catching up with people you ate lunch with?) Having reconnected, some former classmates might peel off, mingle, and move beyond the old crowd. Might. Are you open to however this might play out?
• Acknowledge that there will always be curiosity (perhaps even fantasies ) about that certain someone. Not only gentle musings about the classmate who was popular and cute and "out of your league," but snarky imaginings about the stuck-up classmate whose eyes rolled while his or her friends looked on and laughed. Briefly smile over these daydreams before moving on.
• Understand the nature of psychological safety . We usually assume that gatherings with adults will occur in a relatively 'safe space,' and may be thrown to discover that 'safe' can mean many things. For example, i nvisibility may be just as distressful and humiliating as over-visibility once was ( 'ev eryone ' knew about your new acne and wrong clothing choices). This is because invisibility, no less than over-visibility, can deny dignity. It is a refusal of validation and can trigger feelings similar to the anxiety and insecurity that were common in high school. It is helpful to be aware of this possibility.
• Remember: High school reunions are not in the business of redemption. A surefire way to recall (and reinforce) feelings of inadequacy is to surreptitiously anticipate some form of redemption. Even a more level playing field does not necessarily offer the opportunity for recognition or respect (frequent proxies for atonement). Furtive hopes may masquerade as a tacit expectation to be seen (and in this manner redeemed). Be aware of this secret aspiration.
• With this in mind, look to connect with former classmates who were invisible to you throughout most of high school, and create a safe space with them.
• Realize that we all live in different psychological spaces , even if we share the same physical space. Insisting that the two intersect is a pitfall to keep in mind.
• Recognize that you may get caught up in an emotional flashback and find it challenging to connect with former peers—and the same may be true for them. Few people have no uncomfortable memories linked to high school. For many, the negative emotional experiences lodged themselves in our bodies, where they slumber until something (like a reunion) triggers them. Their "bubbling up" is what can access our inner Carrie. Remember that high school was, at that time, your whole world, and any negative experience rocked it. After the reunion, you will go home to a different world, a world in which these memories are only a part of your self-story. Keep this in mind. It will help keep any rising emotions in perspective. (And remember to breathe!)
• Recognize that any pain you suffered in high school could have affected your still-developing brain in particular ways. Rewiring it will take time, support, and an ability to trust—things rarely provided by a welcoming smile (or even recognition) from a former classmate as they make their way to the bar.
• Finally, be fully aware that attending your reunion may empower you. It could offer you the opportunity to affirm your inner growth and ongoing self-story. (And offering " forgiveness " to particular peers may not be in your story.) What is critical here is a clear realization that your former classmates will have their own scripts. However, you need not continue to accept positioning in their narratives.

If you are clear about disguised hopes and potential pitfalls before attending a reunion, it is likely your inner-Carrie will stay home (and you might have an OK time). Yet many of us have simply moved on from high school, and feel no need to revisit the awkward hallways of our youth. Be wary of entertaining covert insecurity around this choice, or second-guessing whether it is rooted in denial .

What is most important is that "shoulds," self-expectations, and self-judgments are not the determining factors in choosing whether or not to attend. What is at stake is your own self-respect—only you can determine what is best for you. Weigh the pros and cons, then own your choice.

Laura Martocci, Ph.D . is a Social Psychologist known for her work on bullying and shame. A former faculty member and dean at Wagner College, her current work centers around identity (re)construction and the transformative potential in change.

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Why High School Reunions Are Good For You, Really

Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page says if old wounds are holding you back from going to your high school reunion, you're missing out. iStockphoto.com hide caption

Chicago Tribune columnist Clarence Page says if old wounds are holding you back from going to your high school reunion, you're missing out.

For many adults, high school is a time they would rather not revisit. Some remember their adolescent years as traumatic and cringe at the prospect of seeing their peers ever again. So when a high school reunion rolls around, people come up with all kinds of excuses for not attending.

In his Chicago Tribune column , Clarence Page admits that it took him two decades to work up the courage to attend his class reunion — but he tells NPR's Neal Conan that he's glad he finally did it.

"The thing about reunions," Page says, "[is] you can clear a lot of the air with them."

Old humiliations keep too many people away from their reunions, he says. But if you find the courage to go, you might be surprised to hear some very heartfelt mea culpas from old nemeses.

"It's amazing how many apologies I heard," says Page. "One fellow came over — a white classmate — out of the blue, and apologized for being so racist 40 years ago."

On a lighter note, Page says he was also approached by two female classmates who wanted to apologize for bullying him whenever the teacher wasn't looking.

"Of course, I had totally forgotten this," he says. "Your parents are right when they say time heals all wounds, and wounds all heels ... The person who's the big shot now, or the cool girl ... 40 years later, it's Archie and Edith Bunker."

Of course, Page says, when it comes to angst-ridden teenagers, those platitudes often fall on deaf ears.

"This is why I think the [20-year] reunion is so important. Because by then, you've had kids of your own," Page says, "and you start to see how high school is always ridiculous, regardless of what generation happens to confront it."

If you do decide to go to your high school reunion, Page has one piece of advice: Never ask an old classmate if they remember you.

"First of all, if the other person does remember you, you don't need to ask because they're going to make it quite apparent," Page says. "If they don't remember you, then they are busily — with a big grin on their face — trying to talk their way around the fact that they don't."

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25 Years After; or, 10 Things I Learned at My High School Reunion

But I returned for my 25th reunion last week. After all, I did have a few close friends, and (via Facebook) have connected with a few others. How many more opportunities will I have to see them? So, I returned. Here are ten observations.

1. As adolescents, lots of people were insecure, full of doubt, consumed by self-loathing . This is not news, but it is affirming to hear others admit this. “I was so angry then,” one classmate told me.  Adolescence can be a confusing, volatile time.

2. Memory inheres in places . Many glimpses of the past. At the edge of an athletic field, I vividly remembered a conversation, one evening during the spring of my senior year. I know who I was talking to, can remember what we both were wearing, but have no idea what we were discussing. Walking past the Arts Center’s cement cavern , I remember its echo chamber where, we – the male a cappella group – sang earlier that same year, also in an evening. Standing almost anywhere on campus revived memories.

3. I can’t believe I once attended school here. Choate is an extraordinary place. It has an Arts Center , a Science Center, a Humanities Center, athletic buildings, classrooms, and dorms – all of which rival or surpass those in the best universities. I was a student here because my mother taught here, and children of faculty can attend for free. My parents otherwise could never have afforded such an education for my sister and me.

4. That most children lack access to such high quality education is morally wrong.   In addition to the school’s extraordinary facilities, the ratio of faculty to students at Choate is 6:1.  Most public high schools are at least 12:1, and some are as high as 22:1. In the past few decades, Choate made the decision to admit fewer students, in part (so I understand) so that it could achieve such favorable ratios. In contrast, at the national and state levels, government has been cutting funds to public schools, resulting in larger class sizes and worse ratios.

5. The Reunion Industrial Complex.   I suspect this is a phenomenon of elite private schools (and universities), but the reunion was a very swanky, very professional affair. There were huge tents on the Great Lawn (I’d no idea that lawn even had a name), catered meals beneath those tents, bartenders serving (free) drinks at all events, live music, and lots of waitstaff on hand. OK, it lacked ice sculptures, but the reunion otherwise had all the trimmings of a fancy wedding. It must have been very expensive. As one classmate remarked, “If they get a big donation, the reunion will pay for itself.”

6. Teachers made a big difference outside of class . This is a reminder to me, as a professor: often we help our students more as mentors than we do in the classroom. In another blog post , I talked about how the late Terry Ortwein’s decision to cast me in a minor role in Our Town allowed me to glimpse a different self: acting showed me how to shed my shyness and become more outgoing, confident, competent.

Of all my Choate teachers, my mother had the greatest influence on me. I had been languishing in public school until she began teaching in private schools (thus enabling me to attend gratis ). Having arrived in kindergarten able to read and write, I found public school boring, never learned to study, and just coasted along – daydreaming, paying scant attention. This strategy worked well, … until it stopped working well, and my grades slipped. Public school culture emphasized getting by; private school culture emphasized not only doing the work but striving for excellence. Had my mother’s job not enabled me to attend private school, I doubt I’d have gone to college, much less graduate school.

The lessons of private school did not take immediately. Fortunately, John Ford, then a dean, allowed me to repeat my junior year at Choate. Doing so granted me the time to get my act together. (1) I was unlikely to pass three years of Russian, which I’d chosen as my foreign language. So, I switched to Spanish, completing three years’ worth in two years’ time – thanks to a semester in Spain. (2) I also started paying attention consistently, worked harder, and improved my grades to the point that I was able to get into a good college.

I’d forgotten that my Choate classmates sometimes wondered whether my sister and I were twins. We’re in the same graduating class because she started school a year early and I repeated a year. For many years, when people would ask me if Linda (who speaks five languages and runs marathons competitively) were older, I would reply: “Only in terms of accomplishments. In terms of age, I’m actually two years older.”

7. Professionally, many people have found their niche in life. It may not have been the job they imagined themselves doing, but they find it’s a good fit for who they are. Lobbyist, teacher, IT professional, intellectual-property lawyer , stay-at-home mom, personal trainer , actor , director of community relations for Google , Oscar-winning screenwriter , executive producer of The Life of Pi . Yes, those last few are more exceptional than typical. But a number of my classmates are quite high-powered people. It’s very impressive!

8. No one works 9-to-5 anymore. I often think that my 60-hour weeks , in which I work during evenings & weekends, are typical for an academic, but unusual in the rest of the working world. However, such a “flexible” work schedule (in which work expands to fill any available time) is normal in most careers. This is one reason that it’s hard for us to describe what we do. We are all of us multi-tasking, juggling life and work, constantly in motion.

9. Only connect. . . (yes, I’m quoting E.M. Forster ). I of course enjoyed catching up with people who I knew, but I also enjoyed catching up with those I did not know. During the weekend, I actually made a few new friends – which, as we grow older, is too rare an occurrence.

10. As the song says, “The years go by, as quickly as a wink. / Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself (it’s later than you think).” I don’t mean embrace hedonism , but rather we are here now, and then we are gone . Several times during the weekend, I found myself thinking: It is good to be here, right now, in this moment.

I hope all of you fare well over the years to come, though I know not all of you will. I hope to see everyone in the future, though I know some of us will not cross paths again. I hope that you find meaning and purpose in your life, that you nurture your friendships and relationships, that you love and are loved.

*  *  *  *  *

The day after the reunion, I visited a friend whose job prevented her from attending. She was on call that weekend – she’s an M.D. who specializes in geriatrics. Or, as her spouse (an M.D. in pediatrics) puts it, “She has a 100% mortality rate.” Though that can be hard, it’s also very fulfilling. She (and sometimes her children) get to meet people in their 80s, 90s, 100s – people who’ve lived long lives and have stories to tell.

Except for one. She told me of a man, very accomplished in his field. I forget the precise job, and (for reasons of confidentiality) should alter the specifics anyway. But he was the president of a major insurance company or corporation, a very wealthy man. In devoting time to his career, he neglected his friendships and relationships. At the end, he lay there dying, not surrounded by friends and family – but quite alone. He turned to my friend, and asked “Is that it?” Then he died.

My wish for everyone is this. Live well so that, before you face that final curtain, you have something more to say.

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Reflections On a 25-Year High School Reunion

Parenting Writer and Editor of Hey, Who's In My House? Stepkids Speak Out

25 years later, does reality bite?

It was 1988, but it could have been any year. High school days were filled with emotion and excitement: The great late-night parties, the boys my friends and I thought we loved, the friendships we lived for and the music we played while we drove around on Friday nights. And at our 25-year high school reunion, those memories are crystal-clear.

Twenty-five years later, we still remember: the great late-night parties, the boys we thought we loved, the friendships we lived for and the music we played. The times we live in have changed, but actual things don't change much, and people don't either. I think that's a good thing. Reality doesn't bite as hard at the 25-year mark, despite what people may anticipate.

The most exciting thing I discovered after attending my 25-year high school reunion is basically this: Everyone is really nice, and everyone seems really happy -- no matter how many different choices we all made. That's not awfully exciting, but it is kind of nice.

We're no longer judging the big things. The 25th year high school reunion is just... different. It's not like the 10-year, where everyone was so set on showing how the choices they made set them well on their way -- to a perfect marriage, fast-track career, big house or crazy adventure.

It's not the 20-year, when everyone is curious to see who had those things from the 10-year succeed or fall. At the 25th year, we are 43, and we respect reality.

We know there's really no point in judging one another anymore -- not for the big things. We've all made choices and we're living with the consequences. Five kids or no kids; women with thriving careers or stay-at-home struggles; divorces and remarriages (sometimes more than one); failed relationships and unexpected heartbreaks, families with newborn twins or teens (sometimes both). It's just life.

We may not remember every face or every name, but we've given up judging the big things. As we hear the names of our classmates who have died or faced debilitating diseases this year, most of us are just grateful to not hear our names called in the welcome speech.

This is how we turned out. Football jerseys are traded in for blazers, and the girls who seemed like the smartest ones back then still seem so now. Some who always had someone are single now. Some who seemed like loners in high school are happily coupled up. Who's most admired now?

No, we're not perfect. We still gossip about the little things, like who looked great and who looked worse, who got heavier and who looks older. We're not resigned. Just realistic.

Some say timing is everything, and so is perception. What we didn't know at 16 is the grass is most definitely not always greener on the other side.

Those of us who couldn't wait to move far away from our high school town may now be a bit in awe of those who never left. And those that stayed may think it sounds awfully exciting to have left.My guess is there's envy on both sides now. And, perhaps, regret.

Twenty-five years ago,we drove around in circles, not sure where to go. Some days, I am not so sure that much has changed.

The day after the reunion, we are back on Facebook , peeking in on each other's lives and having some odd sense of satisfaction that we think we know what and how everyone is doing. The reunion was nothing more than a moment in time. It's only in these moments after that many of us realize we how much we miss those days.

It's an odd place to be, but the dose of reality seems right.

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Essay: Reflection on 50th High School Reunion

[ Originally aired in August 2011 ]

About 30 years ago, when my father’s class from Milwaukee’s old North Division High School got together for their 50 th reunion, they enjoyed it so much they decided to keep on meeting annually. They elected my dad their class president, a post he held for many years until his advancing Parkinson’s kept him from attending the annual get-togethers.  Every year he would prepare a speech that was really an essay, looking backward over the decades, and memorializing those who had died in the intervening months. 

My siblings and I thought it was cute that the old people were still getting together more than fifty years after leaving high school. They were part of that “Greatest Generation” that had survived the Great Depression and World War II.  They had raised their families during the 1950s and were enjoying the prosperity they had earned. 

Fast forward 30 years. We had our fiftieth reunion from Washington High School this month. Ours had been a huge class-- over 500 students-- and we have, indeed, lost many classmates over the years, but despite that, and the fact that some of us have retired, we proto-Boomers do not feel old. (Perhaps my father’s class didn’t either; we just thought they were.) 

Many of us have, in recent years, suffered the kind of economic reverses our parents’ generation started out with. We, who started out in the prosperous Fifties, with the vast opportunities of the Sixties and Seventies opening before us, are a little taken aback by the country’s recent economic predicament-- undoubtedly the same kind of surprise that the survivors of the 1920s must have felt after the Crash of 1929. 

But despite that, we don’t feel old. At least, we didn’t until a number of us took a tour of the expanded Washington High and discovered that those marble stairs and hallways are not kind to older hips and knees.  Until then, most of us felt like this really had to be our 25 th reunion. Someone was just playing games with the calendar. 

My mother’s Washington High School class held their 25 th reunion the same year my class graduated. From the viewpoint of a seventeen-year-old, I thought they were pretty ancient.  This year, one of my classmates brought her aunt, who had been in my mom’s class, to the informal gathering that kicked off our reunion weekend. She’s now 75 years out of high school-- and still going strong. I guess we all hope for that.

Most of my closest friends from high school attended the festivities.  Most of them still look good, and feel-- well, okay.  Some are retired and embarking on second careers. 

I’ve only lost one close friend from those days-- my locker partner from junior high, who died last year.  I hadn’t seen her in decades, but losing touch didn’t mean I liked her less.  I am unnerved by her loss-- and will be more unnerved if any of the rest of my dearest friends from those halcyon days leave this mortal coil before I do. The realization that the Parkinson’s that gripped my father in the twenty years after his fiftieth reunion, and the dementia that took my mother, could take any of us, lurks in the corners of our minds, denied at every instance-- but always a possibility. (Then again, we lost a popular classmate to a motorcycle accident the weekend after graduation; you play the hand that’s dealt you).

We like to think we’re healthier than our parents’ generation was. We like to think that what the medical community keeps telling us-- that the longer you live, the longer you’re likely to live-- is really true. We’d like to think that a bad knee or hip here and there-- replaceable nowadays-- are the worst of the disabilities we’ll face.  We’d like to think we’ll go on forever.

That’s the reason teenagers take reckless chances-- they think their immortal. We golden anniversary types aren’t taking so many chances nowadays-- we know better, of course.  But I think, deep down, we share the same belief that the teenagers do: growing old is for other people, the definition of “old” is at least ten years older than we are, and we’re going to go on forever.  At least, we hope so.  

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Your Complete Guide To High School Reunions

Categories Activities & Ideas

Are you looking to plan a high school reunion? Maybe yours is coming up and you don’t know what to expect? Or are you curious and want to know more?

Whatever your question might be, we are here with the answers for you! 

Finding out what happens at high school reunions and what to expect can be tricky, especially if you have never attended one before.

You head online to find out more but are met with tons of conflicting articles that leave you unsure who to trust or where to turn, and as the reunion approaches, you feel the fear and frustration creeping in.

Well, no more! Today, we are here with the answers you need! Keep reading for a complete guide to high school reunions.

We have everything you need to get you ready for the upcoming reunion, or even just to satisfy your curiosity! 

When Are High School Reunions?

High school reunions tend to happen ten years after you graduate. Following this, there might be a reunion every five to ten years after the first ten-year reunion.

So you can expect to see 10 year, 20, 25, 30, 40, and even 50 year high school reunions! 

There are plenty of opportunities to see old classmates with this many reunions! 

What Are High School Reunions For?

The main purpose of a high school reunion is for high school friends to catch up and reconnect.

Many people won’t have seen each other since prom or graduation, so it’s a good chance to see what old classmates are up to, what they are working on, and listen to how their lives have been. 

High school reunions are also a good networking opportunity. You never know who might be working in the same field as you or even have a job opportunity waiting for you!

Why not ask about people’s jobs and lives? The answer might surprise you! 

Before social media took off, high school reunions were a great way to learn more about your former classmates.

Keeping in touch with classmates can be tricky, so high school reunions allow you the opportunity to reconnect with friends and ask the questions you want answered! 

When Were High School Reunions Invented?

High school reunions were invented in the 1800s when graduates would visit undergraduate friends and professors at college on Commencement Day.

Held in late September, this tradition was held for a hundred years.

Alumni guests would attend a special dinner funded by the college president before the occasion was moved to June in 1844 to fall after graduation. 

Reunions often included dinners where guests would listen to speeches from other alum. As time went on, the occasion evolved.

Families were invited, bands were hired, and college rivals would play baseball games with one another. 

The event trickled down from colleges and started being held for high schools too.

This meant that even if you didn’t go to college, you could still attend a reunion and catch up with old classmates and teachers. 

Are There Five Year High School Reunions?

Yes, there are five year high school reunions. These typically come after the first ten year reunion. We then see reunions every five to ten years. 

These days, five year high school reunions aren’t that common. This is down to social media making it far easier for you to stay in touch with your classmates.

Now you can go longer without needing to see someone to know what is happening in their lives! 

Are There Ten Year High School Reunions?

Yes, there are ten-year high school reunions. These are the most popular high school reunions in the US. These usually involve old classmates getting together near to or at their old high school.

There might also be a ceremony on the anniversary of their graduation which can be organized by old teachers or classmates. 

Former classmates have the opportunity to catch up and learn about the lives of their old friends, as well as sharing stories about their old school days. 

A lot can happen in ten years, making high school reunions interesting events to attend. Everyone’s lives take a different path after school, so you can expect lots of fun and engaging stories being told!

Whether your classmates have had lengthy careers, got married, traveled, or attended college since you saw them last, you can bet there will be some good stories told! 

How To Plan A High School Reunion 

Planning a high school reunion requires some careful planning and time dedicated to it. Thankfully, we have a step-by-step guide below that you can follow. Let’s take a look at it now. 

1. Create A Reunion Committee 

The class president usually leads the committee formed of former classmates. You can track these down through an alumni contact list or social media platforms.

From here, you can decide how you will plan the reunion. There are lots of planning tools you can use that help you create mailing lists and send invites. 

2. Assign Roles 

Next, give everyone a job to do. This helps make planning the event easier, and increases the chances of everyone on the committee participating and pouring the same level of energy into the planning process. 

3. Contact Alumni Office 

They can provide you with the names and details of your former classmates ready for invitations. They can also offer some advice about previous reunions and let you know if there are any coming up. 

If they are unable to give you contact information, you can use social media to find phone numbers and addresses of former classmates. 

4. Pick A Date And Venue 

Next, set a date that everyone is happy with. Once you have the date you can book the venue.

Make sure you do this with plenty of time, you don’t want to be rushing! Look for a venue that is practical, affordable, and accessible, especially if you are not using your old high school. 

5. Set Your Budget 

Most high school reunions charge ticket prices for a reunion to cover the costs. So you need a budget to calculate the cost.

You might want to do this after you have booked the entertainment, decor, and menu, or you can do it beforehand. 

Set a deadline too for collecting the funds and assign a person whose job it is to collect the money. Alumni donations, class gifts, ticket sales, and alumni association dues are all typically used to fund reunions. 

6. Create A Menu

Next, create a menu. Consider any food restrictions or allergies and create a menu that you all agree on. You will want to consider desserts, appetizers, and drinks, as these are often forgotten! 

7. Plan The Decor 

Create a decor plan for the event. Consider what you will get from the venue and what you can add in.

You might want to use video clips or photo books that can be shared at the event, or incorporate music from your high school days. 

8. Source Entertainment 

If you have the budget, you might want to include entertainment. Usually, this is a DJ or live band to provide some music and entertainment during the event.

You don’t need to have this for the whole event if you don’t want to. 

9. Send Invitations 

Once everything is planned, you can send your invitations! E-invites are usually used as they are cheaper and you don’t need to worry about finding everyone’s address.

Make sure to include an RSVP section and date to RSVP by so you have a clear idea of numbers.

When Should I Host A High School Reunion?

You should plan a high school reunion at a time that suits most of your classmates. It can be hard to find an exact date, so opt for a time that works for most people.

This will likely be the summer months or close to the end of the season. 

We recommend planning the reunion on a weekend or public holiday. If you want the event to be family-friendly too, try and plan it during the daytime.

This way it reduces the need for childcare, ensuring more of your guests can attend. 

What Month Are Most High School Reunions Held?

Most high school reunions are typically held in the summer. This is usually due to the summer being the time more people are free, especially if you have children.

You don’t need to worry about school, especially if you need to travel back for the reunion. 

High school reunions are usually held from June to September. The warmer weather also makes it easier to plan outdoor events. Plus, you don’t need to worry about snow disrupting travel plans! 

Where Should I Have A High School Reunion?

Ideally, your high school reunion should be nearby, or at your old school. Most people will travel if the reunion isn’t too far from their old school.

Of course, this depends on your school’s willingness to host the reunion. Generally, most high schools allow this, especially as the building isn’t used at evenings or during weekends. 

Having the reunion at your school also helps to spark memories and conversations about your time at high school. 

Who Plans High School Reunions?

Anyone can plan a high school reunion. Usually, a class president will take charge and plan the event. It is usually them that coordinate a committee and plan the event.

Anyone can choose to join the committee, and usually, this is advertised on social media or through alumni communications. 

Thankfully with high school reunions, everyone has the same interest in the event/ so you can expect everyone that joins the committee to commit and contribute to planning the event. 

What Happens At A High School Reunion?

So what happens at a high school reunion? Usually, there will be lots of conversations!

Old classmates will reconnect and discuss adult experiences, previous academic life, what they are working on, where they currently are, and what they are working towards. 

Reunions tend to be a casual event. You can expect finger foods or a sit-down dinner, depending on what has been planned. There might also be some entertainment or live music.

Whether this happens depends on the budget and size of the reunion.

Due to the factors that impact a reunion, each high school reunion looks different. But one thing stays the same, old-school friends catching up. 

Final Thoughts 

And there you have it, everything you need to know about high school reunions! Whether you are planning a reunion or have been invited to one, you should know what to expect when you arrive! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Before you leave us today, check out our brief FAQ section to answer all your last-minute questions! 

Do People Hook Up At High School Reunions?

Yes, people do hook up at high school reunions, especially if they have had a few drinks! It can be an opportunity to reconnect with a high school partner, or someone you had a crush on at school. 

They don’t often, but these hookups can form into serious relationships, especially if the people live near each other and are ready for a committed relationship!

What Should I Wear To A High School Reunion?

Unless there is a dress code on the invitation, wear something casual. High school reunions tend to be casual events held at your high school, informal restaurant, or bar.

Wear something you feel comfortable and good in, you don’t want to be standing awkwardly all night! 

We also recommend comfortable shoes as there tends to be a lot of standing at high school reunions! 

Do Partners Go To High School Reunions?

Yes, partners do go to high school reunions. Often, the invitation will state whether it is open to partners or not.

Generally, it is expected that partners will attend high school reunions. It can be fun to take your partner to meet your old school friends, but it’s worth considering them too.

Will they be bored while you reconnect with old friends? You don’t want to spend the evening worrying about them, so consider carefully whether it’s worth attending or not. 

Why Do People Go To High School Reunions?

People go to high school reunions to see their old classmates and catch up. It can be good to hear success stories and how people you once spent every day with are doing. 

People also go to evaluate the success of their classmates. We all love a healthy dose of competition and it can be interesting to see who has succeeded after school.

Remember, we all measure success differently, so try to go in with no expectations. 

High school reunions also provide an opportunity to learn where people have been and what they are working on, especially if you haven’t tracked everyone down on social media.

You can also reconnect and rekindle friendship with your old school friends. 

While you might have had bad experiences in high school and don’t want to attend, it will surprise you how much fun it can be!

Time has passed and people do mature and grow up. Plus, if you are living a successful life and are thriving, it can be great to return and show everyone just how fantastic you and your life is! 

What Do You Talk About At A High School Reunion?

Generally, people talk about their memories from school.

They will also talk about what they have achieved in life, the goals they are working on, how they have progressed, and generally fill the gaps in life since they finished school. 

You can also expect people to reminisce about their old days in school,

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Kenney Myers

Author | Actor | Producer | Kickboxer | Entrepreneur

10 Really Great Reasons to Go to Your High School Reunion

January 24, 2015 by Kenney Myers

• To Reconnect With Old Friends – Remember the best friend that you talked to for hours every night on the telephone and swore you’d never grow apart from? Unless you’re one of the lucky few, chances are that you haven’t seen one another in years and may even have lost touch altogether. Few events offer the opportunity to reconnect with people that were once important to you like a high school reunion, and you may never see them again if you skip the event.
• Because You’ve Changed Dramatically – If you’ve lost a ton of weight or were the ugly duckling that became a swan in college or later in life, there’s something very satisfying about showing up to your high school reunion to flaunt those changes. Poise and confidence often come with age, so you can navigate your reunion much more easily than the halls of your high school.
• To Come to Terms With Aging – Seeing new fine lines and more gray hair isn’t easy to deal with for most people. When you arrive at your reunion and realize that everyone is getting older, it can make the experience feel less isolating and help you come to terms with the fact that aging is an inevitable part of life.
• Because Living Well is the Best Revenge – High school can be rough, especially for kids that don’t quite fit the mold. If you suffered through high school and have since built a wonderful, rewarding life for yourself despite the bad experiences, showing off your success to the people that treated you badly can be quite vindicating.
• To Network – Networking is so important in some fields that there are entire social websites built solely around the premise of helping people to network on a professional level. Attending your high school reunion can be a great experience, but it may also afford you some networking opportunities that you would otherwise miss out on.
• To Reminisce – Some people suffer through high school, but there are also those that reveled in the experience. Looking back at your high school career and sharing a few laughs with the people that were by your side for all of those great times can be very rewarding.
• To Show Your Spouse Where You Came From – Attending your high school reunion with your spouse is a great way to share a part of your formative years. You can tour your hometown, introduce old friends and share stories that you’d forgotten all about, helping you forge an even stronger bond.  Of course unless you are one of the luckiest people in the world and still married to your high school sweetheart (which is even more of a cause to celebrate with mutual friends)!
• To Party Like It’s 1988… Or Something – When careers and kids come along, opportunities to let your hair down can be few and far between. Your high school reunion will give you the chance to dance the night away. Rather than sharing the dance floor with a crowd of college kids at a nightclub, you’ll be surrounded by people your own age rocking out to songs you haven’t heard in years.
• To Satisfy Your Curiosity – If you’ve ever wondered where people ended up and what they have done with their lives this is your chance to find out.  Whether it is the motor head that constantly tinkered with his cool car or the nerd that always raised his hand to answer the teacher’s questions, it’s fun to see what became of them.
• Because Wall Posts Aren’t Real Conversations – Seeing pictures and FaceBook status updates from your old friends or even sending a few messages back and forth just isn’t the same as seeing them in the flesh and catching up. As hard as it may be to believe, some people don’t even maintain social networking accounts. If you haven’t seen your high school friends since graduation, there’s no better place to catch up than the spot where you all went your separate ways.

Reader Interactions

May 3, 2013 at 10:38 am

We deal in class reunion supply and gift business, this season is our 4th year in the business and sadly… things aren’t looking too good. No coffin in the nail, but it appears class reunions just aren’t what they use to be: business is down 50% and those that are spending aren’t doing very much of that. On the other hand, Family Reunion attendance is up. I’d love to read a post covering 10 reason to attend a family reunion!

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“ Breaking Out of the High School Bubble: Tim’s Story “

This lesson is designed to build your critical-thinking skills in English as you read, listen, and answer different types of comprehension and discussion questions.

Pre-Listening Activities

Although these questions are related to classroom instruction, independent learners can reflect on the ideas and topic to prepare for the listening portion of the lesson.

Mind Mapping : Have students brainstorm words and ideas related to high school reunions and the emotions that might come up during this kind of event. Encourage them to think about their own experiences or expectations of high school reunions.

Vocabulary Building : Introduce students to vocabulary words related to the story, such as “loner,” “bully,” “forgiveness,” “reconciliation,” and “acceptance.” Have them look up the definitions and discuss the meaning of the words.

Research : Have students research and bring in news articles or personal stories about high school reunions and then share their findings with the class. Encourage them to discuss the different experiences people have at high school reunions.

Predicting the Story : Have students read the title of the story and make predictions about the story. Ask them to think about the setting, characters, and conflicts that might be present in the story.

Group Discussion : Have students discuss their own experiences with high school and high school reunions in small groups. Ask them to share their expectations and fears about high school reunions and discuss why people might attend them.

Listen and read the story and answer the questions. Key vocabulary words are marked in bold .

It was the day of the high school reunion, and as the graduates began to arrive, it was clear that not much had changed since they had last seen each other. The popular kids were still popular, the jocks were still jocks, and the nerds were still nerds.

As he entered the room, Tim felt a sudden surge of anxiety. He had been a loner in high school, always too shy to fit in with any of the cliques . He had spent most of his time studying and had never even cut class once.

Tim looked around the room, hoping to spot someone he recognized, but he didn’t see anyone he knew.

Feeling awkward and out of place, he decided to crack a book and try to blend in with the crowd.

As he pulled out his old calculus textbook, he noticed a group of guys huddled together, talking and laughing loudly. They looked like the same guys who used to pick on him in high school.

Tim hesitated, wondering if he should approach them, but before he could make up his mind, one of the guys spotted him and called out, “Hey, it’s Tim! Remember him? The guy who never cut class ?”

The others laughed, and Tim felt his face turn red with embarrassment. But then something unexpected happened. One of the guys, who had always been the biggest bully, stepped forward and held out his hand.

“Hey, Tim,” he said. “I just wanna say I’m sorry for how I treated you in high school. I was a jerk back then, but I’ve grown up since then!”

Tim was shocked. Really shocked.

He’d never expected to hear those words from his former tormentor, but he shook the guy’s hand and smiled, feeling a sense of relief and acceptance he’d never experienced before.

As the night wore on , Tim found himself fitting in with the crowd more and more. He laughed and joked with his former classmates, and even joined in a game of pool with the jocks. 

By the end of the night, he realized that high school had been a long time ago, and that people can change.

As he walked out of the reunion hall, Tim felt grateful for the experience. 

He realized that sometimes, the most awkward situations can lead to unexpected moments of connection and forgiveness, and he knew that, no matter what happened in the future, he would always be able to look back on his high school reunion with a smile.

So to conclude, think about this question: Just like in this story, what role do apologies and forgiveness play in building stronger and more meaningful relationships with others?

Comprehension Questions: Self-Grading Quiz

High school bubble- life story, what was tim’s reputation in high school, why was tim hesitant to approach a group of guys at the reunion, what happened when one of the former bullies approached tim at the reunion, how did tim feel about the experience at the end of the night, what did tim learn from the high school reunion, comprehension questions in text format.

1. What was Tim’s reputation in high school? A) Popular B) Jock C) Nerd D) Loner

2. Why was Tim hesitant to approach a group of guys at the reunion? A) He didn’t recognize them. B) They were known bullies. C) He was too shy. D) They were too popular.

3. What happened when one of the former bullies approached Tim at the reunion? A) He made fun of Tim. B) He apologized for his past behavior. C) He ignored Tim. D) He invited Tim to play a game of pool.

4. How did Tim feel about the experience at the end of the night? A) Angry B) Anxious C) Grateful D) Embarrassed

5. What did Tim learn from the high school reunion? A) People can’t change. B) Cliques will always exist. C) Unexpected moments of connection can happen. D) It’s important to cut class.

1. What was Tim’s reputation in high school? Answer: D) Loner Explanation: Tim’s reputation in high school was that of a loner. He did not fit in with the popular crowd and had few friends.

2. Why was Tim hesitant to approach a group of guys at the reunion? Answer: B) They were known bullies. Explanation: Tim was hesitant to approach a group of guys at the reunion because they were known bullies who had picked on him in high school. He was afraid they would treat him the same way.

3. What happened when one of the former bullies approached Tim at the reunion? Answer: B) He apologized for his past behavior. Explanation: When one of the former bullies approached Tim at the reunion, he apologized for his past behavior and expressed regret for how he had treated Tim in high school.

4. How did Tim feel about the experience at the end of the night? Answer: C) Grateful Explanation: At the end of the night, Tim felt grateful for the unexpected moments of connection he had with his former classmates, and for the opportunity to confront his past and make peace with it.

5. What did Tim learn from the high school reunion? Answer: C) Unexpected moments of connection can happen. Explanation: Tim learned from the high school reunion that unexpected moments of connection can happen, even with people he may have thought were very different from him in high school. He also learned the importance of forgiveness and second chances.

Discussion Questions

Easy (Recall and Comprehend) :

• What was Tim’s reputation in high school?
• Why did Tim feel awkward at the reunion?
• How did Tim feel at the end of the night?

Intermediate (Analyze and Interpret) :

• Do you think high school reunions are valuable events for people to attend? Why or why not?
• How might Tim’s experience at the reunion have been different if he had cut class and joined a different social group in high school?

Advanced (Analyze and Interpret) :

• How do our past experiences in school shape our social interactions later in life, and is it possible to overcome them?
• How can we encourage a culture of forgiveness and reconciliation, even towards those who have hurt us in the past?
• What role do apologies and forgiveness play in building stronger and more meaningful relationships with others?
• How do we define and measure success in life, and how much does our high school experience factor into that definition?

Class Activities

Here are five classroom activities that can encourage critical thinking about the story:

1, Reflective writing : Have students write a reflective essay on a time they felt like a loner or an outsider, and how they overcame that feeling. Encourage them to draw from the themes and experiences in the story.

2. Group Discussion : Have students break into small groups and discuss the theme of forgiveness and second chances in the story. Ask them to share their own experiences with forgiveness and second chances, and how these experiences impacted their lives.

3. Character Analysis : Have students analyze the characters in the story, focusing on how their experiences in high school influenced their current lives. Encourage them to discuss how different characters dealt with their pasts, and how those experiences shaped their personalities.

4. Creative Writing : Have students write a short story from the perspective of one of the characters in the story, but set in a different time period or setting. Ask them to think about how the character’s past experiences would influence their actions in this new context.

5. Debate : Have students debate the following question: “Is it better to fit in or be true to oneself?” Encourage them to draw from the themes and experiences in the story, and to think critically about the advantages and disadvantages of each approach

Language Game

Title : High School Reunion Word Jumble

Objective : To help students review and recall vocabulary words from the story in a fun and engaging way.

Instructions :

• Create a list of vocabulary words from the story, such as “reunion,” “loner,” “awkward,” “fit in,” and “forgiveness.”
• Rearrange the letters of each word to create a jumbled version of the word.
• Write each jumbled word on a separate index card or piece of paper.
• Divide the class into two teams and give each team a set of jumbled word cards.
• Each team has a set amount of time to unscramble as many words as they can. They can work together to solve the jumbled words.
• When time is up, the teams count how many words they unscrambled correctly.
• The team with the most correct answers wins.

Different AI technologies, including ChatGPT and an AI voice generator, were used in a collaborative way to prepare the content for this lesson.

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25 Reunion Quotes To Post With Your Throwback Pics To See How Far You’ve Come

Seriously, where has the time gone?

High school seems like just yesterday. That is, until you're opening a letter in the mail that happens to be an invitation for your five- or 10-year reunion. It can be shocking — the realization that that much time has passed since you were a hopeful senior. As you prepare to meet up with old friends, you'll need several sentimental reunion quotes for throwback pictures and selfies of everyone all together again.

Your high school crew was there for every important moment of those four years of your life. While you may have stayed in touch since then, it’s still interesting to see the different paths everyone in your class took after getting their high school diplomas. Where the heck did the time even go? It doesn't matter if you were the class clown, a bookworm, or the most popular person in school. When you attend your high school reunion, it's almost like you're reintroducing yourself, because you’ve changed.

Just like you’ll enjoy remembering the good ol’ days of scurrying to your locker and hightailing it to class, you’ll want to remember this moment of seeing your high school buddies all grown up. Snap as many selfies as you can. You may even want to recreate some iconic photos from your high school days for a fun throwback IG post. The only thing you need to make it happen are some high school friends quotes to use as your caption. The right school reunion quotes will capture all the feels you have being with your crew once again, but since you’re done with all the homework and deadlines, no need to come up with your own words. Instead, use any of these 25 reunion quotes that make A+ captions.

• " We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves." — Lynn Hall
• “Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different?” — C.S. Lewis
• "Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for that." — Ally Condie
• "The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again." — Charles Dickens
• "Everything has changed and yet, I am more me than I've ever been." — Iain Thomas
• "In the end, you always go back to the people that were there in the beginning."
• "Sometimes, even when you're having a good time, you can't help but stop and think about how much you miss the old times."
• "It's the oldest story in the world. One day you're seventeen and planning for someday, and then quietly and without you ever really noticing, someday is today, and that someday is yesterday. And this is your life." — One Tree Hill
• "Happiness is being with an old friend after a long time and feeling like nothing has changed."
• "Souls tend to go back to who feels like home." — N.R. Hart
• "The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." — Elisabeth Foley
• "We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public." — Bryan White
• "Sometimes, you have to accept the fact that certain things will never go back to how they used to be."
• "Don’t count the years. Count the memories.”
• "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered." — Nelson Mandela
• “ As we go on, we remember all the times we had together.” — Vitamin C, “Graduation”
• “ I hope you had the time of your life.” — Green Day, “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”
• “Youth is wasted on the young.”
• “ Forever young.” — Alphaville, “Forever Young”
• “ The seasons change but the friends remain the same.”
• “A second chance to decide the legacy you leave behind.”
• “We're all in this together.” — High School Musical
• “You make me feel like I'm livin' a teenage dream.” — Katy Perry, “Teenage Dream”
• “The best of friends are impossible to forget.”
• “Reunited and it feels so good!” — Peaches & Herb, “Reunited”

This article was originally published on 10.31.17

Perry High School students win 2024 Perry Optimist essay contest

P erry Optimist Club handed out medals to the local essay contest winners during its meeting on Wednesday, April 3 at the Hotel Pattee.

Linda Andorf, who facilitated the contest, said DMACC VanKirk Career Academy's Linda Kaufman assigned a writing assignment to her Perry High School/DMACC students. The assignment was graded and was then judged anonymously by Perry Optimist Club members. This year, 32 essays were submitted and four places were awarded.

Erika Guardado won first place while Jennifer Ramos received second place. Mia Munoz and Kain Killmer tied for third place.

In the lead-up to the 2020 election, all eyes are on Iowa. Get updates of all things Iowa politics delivered to your inbox.

The prompt for this year’s contest was "Optimism: How it Connects Us."

Guardado’s essay has been sent to the district level. She will also receive a $500 scholarship during the senior awards assembly in May.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Perry High School students win 2024 Perry Optimist essay contest