As I prepare to attend my 30-year high school reunion, I find the whole concept significantly less daunting than it was a decade ago. Back then, social media wasn’t part of our lives, which meant I had no clue who would show up or how they would have changed. At my 10-year reunion, I was newly married and anxiously waiting for a television show I had poured my heart into to premiere. When I introduced my wife to my former classmates and mentioned my job in the industry, their polite smiles seemed to mask thoughts of, “He’s probably unemployed, and that attractive woman must be a last-minute hire.”
A decade feels too short to truly reconnect with old friends. The 10-year reunion felt uncomfortable, a competition of perceived success even though most of us were still in our twenties. Conversations were laced with a quiet desperation, a shared fear that we would all be judged based on our accomplishments—or lack thereof. After that experience, I swore off high school reunions entirely.
Yet here I am, ready to embrace my 30-year milestone. This time, I’m attending as a divorced individual and someone whose television project has been off the air for years. I’ve experienced both great triumphs and significant setbacks, but more importantly, I’ve reached a state of acceptance about who I am. The pressure to impress has dissipated, and thanks to social media, my classmates and I have seen each other evolve over the years. We no longer feel like we’re stuck in a time capsule.
I’ve let go of my high school persona—I’m no longer the class clown, and the cheerleader we all admired has transformed into a remarkable, confident woman with children. The former jock isn’t reliving past glories; he’s now a successful small business owner. Every one of us has evolved and embraced adult identities, which we’ve had ample time to refine. At the 10-year mark, many of us were still trying to figure out who we were.
But now, at the 30-year reunion, I feel prepared. I just need to hit the gym to ensure I don’t show up with any extra weight—looks like I’ll be giving away my Easter candy.
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In summary, attending a 30-year reunion allows for a more relaxed and genuine reconnecting experience compared to the anxiety of a 10-year gathering. We have all grown and matured, shedding the pressures of our youth.