This past weekend was my 20th high school reunion. While that number is quite shocking to me and honestly feels wrong, it had me stop and pause to reflect on the past 20 years. A lot has changed in my life. I got married young, had a baby young, got divorced, moved several times, and finally found myself.
While attending an all-girls school was fun, with no makeup to worry about and my hair could be whatever, etc., I didn’t really feel like that was my time to shine in life. I had several friend groups and had classes with several people not in said friend groups, which is the case I think for a lot of the girls in my class. Some stuck with their elementary school friends, while others became close to friends that lived farther away from them.
The “peaked in high school” flashes in my head often; I was definitely not one of those. I didn’t know who I was in my own skin, followed along with the rules, and studied my butt off when others just passed with flying colors. I didn’t have a mind of my own and wasn’t able to form my own opinions on anything it felt like. I am not sure if that comes with age and experience or if it is just something I didn’t have back then. I was worried about what people thought of me, only because I know I am a lot. I am loud, and easily distracted, it takes a lot for me to not like someone. I felt my time in high school was learning how to navigate who were the ones that could handle my crazy and those that I knew just never would.
While seeing the majority of my graduating class this weekend, I felt a lot of nostalgia. We have had two classmates pass away too young and leave behind their small children and husbands. Everyone looked the same, but also different. We have all grown up and found ourselves in the process. Some of us are still on that journey and I don’t think it could be any more beautiful.
Social media has made keeping up with everyone so easy, and I am actually very grateful for that. I am always going to be their cheerleader on the sidelines, and I honestly hope it isn’t another 20 years before I see all of my sisters’ beautiful faces again.
