Up and down the Front Range these summer months, high school reunions fill the calendars. From Fort Collins to Boulder, Arvada and beyond, alums from numerous graduation years celebrate getting together. Quite possibly 10 years becomes the first high school class reunion. Soon, 15, 20, 25 years and more occur. For those around, 50th and 65th reunions happen.
High School Alimni Reunion
Having those yearbooks help attendees recognize each other. Noticeable changes begin to occur from changing hair (color or loss) along with weight gains more likely than losses.
Stories about marriage and families add to the discussions. Frequently asked questions possibly include “What are you doing these days?” “What was your career?” “Where are you living now?” “What happened to your parents, siblings?” For those on Facebook, these questions have been answered. Recognizing each other without the assistance of the yearbook may provide a challenge even when the names are included.
During these reunions, planning committees may have created contest questions. While generic (traveled the farthest, longest marriage or number of children, most unusual occupation) others might be unique to the high school. Favorite teach
ers, most impactful time, special memories, become localized. Some somber moments may happen when thinking about classmates, teachers, and coaches who are no longer living.
Regardless the years, gratitude for a good education exists along with the ability to travel down memory lane with laughter. Stories remembered, or slightly exaggerated, add to the amusement of all attending.
Possibly an enthusiastic round of the high schools’ fight song might close the reunion time. That is if those words can be remembered! For educators, being invited to a reunion for classes they taught can be as important as attending their own. Such was this writer’s experience when invited back years later. One attendee noted we must be very old if attending that reunion. Yes, yearbooks helped show the student-teacher relationship from yesteryear!
Check your local high school to see if there’s a reunion for you to attend. Google provides more information about high school reunions in and out of state.