Once I got back to my hometown, moved all my stuff back in, along with all my friends from high school being back home, seeing them post snapchats and pictures of revisiting and hanging out at all the same places we did in high school with some of their best friends, catching up and laughing like nothing had changed and like they hadn't been apart for the past five months. All I could do is reminisce about high school and miss some of my oldest friends- my classmates.
Wait, what?
Me? Miss my high school? Miss my class? The girl that could not get out of high school fast enough and could not stand more than half the people at her school most days? SHE missed it?
Yes.... she did. I missed it so much I sent out a group message (there was only 45 in my graduating class) inviting everyone over to my house for a half year reunion.
Yes. A half year reunion. (My class was never one for being "traditional" anyways)
To my surprise, most of us actually missed one another too and wanted to see everyone. About 20-30 of them came, not including the athletes that had to return to school right after Christmas or the exchange students out of the country. We played football, had a bonfire, ate lots of unhealthy food, watched tv, and talked for hours and hours catching everyone up on our new lives. But as much as we talked about our new lives, we still remembered our old ones- the ones we spent with each other. The ones most of us will never forget. And with that, most of us (as much as we would not like to think) still have not changed a bit...
Tyler and I still have not found a way to manage to get along for more than 3 minutes, Taylor still cracks corny jokes, and Morgan still gets uncomfortable when you compliment her. Trey is still a redneck and loves dirt (he came late because he was hunting) and Jarod, who still has his biceps, always has the craziest stories to tell. Callie is still the teachers' pet, Amanda is always as confused as I am (in class and in life) and understands my struggles fully (specifically having to pee while your nails are still wet). And Carly is well... still Carly, she dropped a whole plate of food in my floor. Luke still silently judges everyone when they say something dumb, and Josh always brings up my failures and laughs at them (but I always return with the comeback of 'B building stairs' and he quietly remains quiet). Brooks is still awkward, we think he is going to outgrow this stage one day, and Anna is still there for me to make my side glares at and say comments under my breath when people get on my nerves because she always mutually agrees. And of course, Logan still arrives late. The sluts are still sending nudes and doing what sluts do, and its still just awkward with two exes in the same room.
This sweet reunion was supposed to be for us to stay connected and not grow apart because college changes us sometimes. But in our time of telling each other about classes we took, friends we made, crazy nights, and near death experiences... we realized one thing- we've never really changed. If anything, times like these remind us of who we used to be (some for the better, some for the worst). We realized that no matter how far we go, how far we run, how hard we try, the fact is we have grown up together and have helped mold each other into the people we are today. We were there together in elementary school when one of us were seated on the curb crying, when one of us scraped our knees on the blacktop, the girls beat the boys in soccer (every single day), when the blue team beat the grey team in 5th grade and we still remember who was on which team. We journeyed together into middle school (God bless us all) when we were awkward, we "dated" people we should've probably never talked to, someone always tipped the canoe at the retreat (*cough* Alex every single year), followed by the time Logan got her nose busted playing soccer and then someone wearing a mask chased me while I was trying to go find help, we went to Williamsburg to meet Susan Dubeau, Caswell, Charleston, and Carowinds together and created unforgettable memories every time. We then entered high school beyond ready just to graduate the first day of freshman year, but oh how we had so much life to live and memories to make still together. We started out as little freshmen, continued into the awkwardness of sophomore year and the joy of parking 100 miles away, then we were upper classmen and those years just flew by. We endured too many long, boring sports banquets, had our senior day for sports we never wanted to quit with teams we could never forget, the Mr.BCA pageant was a blast, went to prom (some of us regretting our dates, some of us not), had an unforgettable trip to Disney World together (anyone remember some of those awkward couples?? LOL), and then that brought us to graduation week. The week went so slow, yet too fast and seems like a blur. Seems like one day we were riding roller coasters without a care in the world because we were the happiest people at the happiest place on earth, and the next we were fighting back tears trying not to just loose it during our graduation ceremony. I texted Anna that I was going to be late, like her and I did every morning, almost causing tears before we even made it to the school that day. Then, standing there before I walked across the stage, I turned around to Josh for him to go over what I was supposed to do one more time, to help me get through the situation, and give me confidence in myself one last time- just like he always had. He went over how I handshake the first person, hug the next, get my diploma, shake the principal's hand and then smile for the camera.
And just like that, 13 years of spending everyday of our lives together was over.
When I woke up the next morning I realized just how much I wished I hadn't have wanted to rush time. I had wanted my whole life to be finished with school only to realize just how much I actually loved it there. It was my safe place, my home.
I woke up the next morning and tweeted a quote my dad said,
"today is the first day of the rest of our lives"
and it was so true. Our new lives started Saturday June 6th, 2015 and it was the most bittersweet day.
But from that day on, we were forced to grow up. We were forced to go to college, become our own people, and practically start over.
But sometimes, its good to come back together and remember who we used to be, remember who we still are, and remember where we came from.
Class of 2015, you will forever have my heart.
Love,
A girl who didn't appreciate high school as much as she should have
But from that day on, we were forced to grow up. We were forced to go to college, become our own people, and practically start over.
But sometimes, its good to come back together and remember who we used to be, remember who we still are, and remember where we came from.
Class of 2015, you will forever have my heart.
Love,
A girl who didn't appreciate high school as much as she should have
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