Wednesday, June 04, 2008

I want to run through the halls of my high school

How do you feel about high school? What was your experience like? Would you go back? This is a sample of common questions people make you answer about high school, which I am doing now, suckers.

I had a good high school experience. I wasn't very popular. I wasn't involved in a whole lot of extra-curricular things. But I had fun friends to do things with and that's probably all that matters. Were there people you felt self-conscious around? Did you carry crushes through your entire high school life? There are boys I could name that will always stand out as some of my crushes dating way back from the 5th or 6th grade, but I will refrain from naming them. You never know who reads these things. I wish i did though. (know) I wonder if any people from high school read my blog? That would be cool. Maybe I SHOULD name them, call them out into the wind of cyberspace...where there is no air. But i guess i won't. Maybe one day.


I was kind of awkward back in the day, but mostly awkward-looking. The glad thing is that I didn't know I was awkward at the time of my awkwardness. So ignorance is bliss, right. I thought I knew how to dress myself which as it turns out, I so, so did not, and I was not yet aware of my eyebrows' existence, as we all know (don't make me post that picture again) but I had a great time.

This year is the 10th anniversary since I graduated from high school. It looks like there isn't going to be a reunion which is kind of a bummer. I think I'd like to go, if mostly to just see what people look like because I'm shallow that way. Nah, I don't really want to talk to anyone as I disdain small talk, unless people wanted to talk about stupid crap, which I am totally for. (hence, this blog) Would I talk to people I didn't talk to in high school? Sure, if they're interesting and friendly. Reunions are strange in that we all ought to know each other, but don't, really. And it seems to be a common occurrence that, for some reason, old insecurities come rushing back when you see people from your teenage past. Insecurities you thought you had conquered long ago. I like to think I had a pretty good sense of self and self esteem, especially for a high schooler. And I'm glad to say that I think I still do. When I got to college, I was relieved to see that it seemed that all those groups and categories and cliques that existed in high school seemed to die there. In college I was friends with many people (I was sooooo popular. just kidding), I became acquainted with tweezers, and had a total blast. (That sounds like I became BFF's with tweezers and had parties with them and TP'ed their house.)

I remember I was working in the mall during college (yes, i'm cool) and ran into a guy I'd sort of known all through my childhood but hadn't really been friends with. But you have a certain bond with people you knew from way, WAY back when. Anyway, he was probably considered popular to some degree in high school. He was on a sports team, that's all I really know. But i ran into him and we had a lovely chat and it was nice to see that all that crap (that probably never existed except in our own minds) was no more.

A part of me, however, is resistant to seeing old high school peers. Why? Am I afraid those insecurities will come back? Possibly. I'm not the most outgoing person. I am happy to keep to myself unless I find someone who is easy and/or interesting to talk to. I think I'm a pretty confident person, but what will people think about me? Will I have aged a lot? Do I look old? I don't know. I feel like anything from high school on is a vast improvement. What do you say to people you saw so many times but never really talked to? "Hey, how are you? I suddenly care now for some mysterious reason even though I didn't then. S'up?"

Anyway, it's all very interesting, sort of. I guess it's not THAT interesting, let's face it. What do you think? Do you have any feelings toward your upcoming HS reunion? Or experiences from your previous one(s)?

p.s. Sooo so sorry for the title. I do NOT heart John Mayer, nor do I this song. It does have high school in it though, so it's somewhat relevant. I hate coming up with titles for posts. If it were up to me they'd all be named "Post #41, Post #42".

7 comments:

Joel said...

My 10-year reunion is this summer, and the people in charge send out emails every week. It's actually kind of annoying. But there are three reasons I am going to go:

1. My wife is hot.
2. I am still thin.
3. I haven't gone bald.

I'm hoping for some laughs at the expense of those who used to think they were better than everyone else.

Kelli said...

On a slightly unrelated note, do you think with blogs, facebook, myspace, etc, that reunions will no longer be neccesary? I hate it when you run into someone you haven't seen in a long time, and they tell you all about your life, but you already know everything about their life as you have been lurking on their blog for the past 6 months, and you have to pretend like it is all new news. Yeah...

Natalie R. said...

I have mixed feelings about a HS reunion. I enjoyed HS alright at the time, but looking back it pretty much sucked. Most of the people in my class are not really people I want to see again, but there are a few that I wouldn't mind reconnecting with. At this point, I have no idea where I'll be next year, so I'll decide when I get to that point.

AJones said...

Hi Jen... My sister Mary is visiting and while reading her blogand her comments I found myself laughing at all your comments... So she suggested I read your blog...What a great blog I've been wondering about the highschool reunion myself. Your blog definetly brought memories and laughs. Its a shame we weren't friends in highschool. I don't think I had many friends ...hmm sad not much changed/ ha ha
Well just thought I'd give a really random shout out.
Maybe one day aI'll see you at one of these reunions

)en said...

Hey Aly! It IS a shame! Weird how that was, eh? You were friends with Amy Swalberg, right? she always thought you were funny. Thanks for the shout out and for liking my blog. Please come back again. :)

But yeah, reunions are weird. Who do I reeeally really want to see? I mean, if i really wanted to reconnect with people, i could probably do that via email, right? I honestly think I just want to see what people look like.

As for blogs, blogs are also interesting. I tend not to read people's blogs very often who I see on a regular basis. That way when I meet them in real life there isn't that awkwardness of "oh, i already know this but i will pretend i don't.." OR, you can read their blogs but comment, so they know you're there. OR, when they do tell you the story you already know about, just say "oh yeah! i read it on your blog." I think that's ok.

the end.

Brooke said...

Luckily for you, there IS going to be a reunion! I ran into Steve F. last night while renting a video and he brought it up. I told him I already got an email, and he's like, "What? How?!? I'm in charge of it and I didn't send anything out. I just sent a proof to Schwarz." Looks like Schwarz, and then Amy, prematurely leaked the news.

)en said...

ah, i miss the days of my recent comments hack. I need to put that in again. yeah, that'll be fun. hopefully lots of people will come.