The night you've looked forward to and dreaded for years is finally here. It's your high school reunion. The people who adored you and the people who ignored you are all gathered in one place, and you are walking into the room with one goal: making your old love turn green with envy. It may seem petty, but we're all human and we all want to do it, so let's map out the game plan in five easy-to-follow steps.
1. Talk to everyone.
You may have gone to your reunion just to see your old flame, but don't act like it. Spend some time reacquainting yourself with old friends you haven't seen in ages. Catching up with people with whom you share a common bond can be a blast. Besides, you may discover a new flame instead of wasting time on an old one.
2. Pretend you don't remember him or her.
This is a complete and total mind game and not the most mature option. But it's still fun.
3. Don't bring up the past.
If this person completely broke your heart, don't admit it now. Let bygones be bygones and focus on what they've been up to since high school. You can't control what happened all those years ago, but you can control the present and future.
4. Be mysterious.
Don't lay all your cards on the table. You may think this is another mind game, but it's simply a good conversational skill. After 10, 20, or 30 years, it's only natural that you'll have a few stories you're not exactly eager to tell. Share some life-changing experiences, but leave out the part about how you've spent years wondering about what might have been.
5. Go on with your life.
Reunions can be satisfying experiences for your heart and for your soul. Enjoy the rediscovery of your past and appreciate the changes you've made over the years. You may rekindle that old flame, or you may just put it out forever. Whatever happens, know that it was meant to be that way and be thankful for the experience. Life goes on, and so will you. After all, you've got to experience new things so you'll have something to talk about at your next reunion.
It's reuniontime and you're ready to go. You're completely prepared to face your friends and demons with a good attitude and a smile on your face. But you're not out of the woods yet. Follow our patented Classmates Survival Guide "Reunion Don'ts" to fully enjoy your reunion experience and avoid Next Day Regret.
Don't:
...sell products.
There is nothing more annoying then a person trying to sell you something on the phone, and even more so when this person is a friend at your reunion. If you want to tap your friends as a business resource, give them your card and have them give you a call at the office. The reunion is not a market place, plus you've got to relax and have a good time once in awhile.
...get in a fist fight.
Not a good idea in any setting.
...bum money off people.
Go to your reunion with plenty of money to enjoy the night's activities. If you don't, you're gambling on the generosity of others — plus everyone will be talking about how cheap you are, and you know you don't want that.
...wear tight and uncomfortable clothing.
Stuffing yourself into a certain size just because you wore it in high school is not going to win any praise. It's time to admit you're a bit older and adjust your mentality to your current size. In fact, wearing clothes a little too big will make you look smaller than you actually are.
...lie.
Everyone at your reunion is going to exaggerate and get away with it, and so can you. But saying you are a brain surgeon when you aren't is going to get back to you. Someone will know your sister, or your old next door neighbor, who knows that you are not a brain surgeon and soon you'll be caught up in your own web of lies with everyone laughing at you (ever see Romy & Michelle's High School Reunion?).
Preparing for a reunion is both mental and physical. It may be just the thing to force you to lose weight, or force you to a psychiatrist. Like any major or important event in life, it's best to plan ahead, and these five simple points will help make your reunion virtually painless.
Take a walk.
You probably don't think about high school every day, so take a walk down memory lane. Remember what it was like to walk the halls and say hi to your friends on the way to the math class you hated. Flip through the pages of your yearbook to bring back all those names and faces you pushed back into the darkest corner of your mind.
Make travel plans early.
If going home requires travel plans, get started ahead of time. You'll have enough on your mind and don't need to worry about transportation or who's going to take you to the airport. Planning ahead will save you money on the airline ticket and give you some peace of mind before the reunion anxiety hits.
Go with a friend.
Going with a friend will give you a nice sounding board before getting to the big event. You can bounce nervous energy off each other and get it all out before you even walk in the door. The pressure is always lessened when you have someone to laugh with and it's nice to meet up throughout the evening to compare notes, remind each other who to talk to, and give each other a little pat on the back.
The primary goal.
Reunions can be overwhelming, so narrow down the goals you hope to accomplish and shoot for one. If your goal is to talk to as many people as possible, go for it. If you want to talk to the guy you had a crush on in the 11th grade, then talk to him. Don't put things off because you'll never do them. Have a specific goal and follow through. (In other words, don't wimp out!)
Have a positive outlook.
Remember what reunions are all about: reuniting. It's not about the party, the food, or hitting on your old boyfriend. Reunions are about reconnecting with people you grew up with; people who share a common bond through time. These people knew you when you were nothing (or everything) and want to reconnect with you to know that you turned out all right. Keep this in mind, and you'll have the best time possible.