Can you believe it’s been 25 years? A full quarter of a century since my biggest worries were whether my lab partner had studied enough for our physics final and if I had sufficient hairspray to last through dance team practice. This summer, I’m gearing up for my 25-year high school reunion, ready to reconnect with a group of individuals from the ’80s who might as well have stepped out of a John Hughes film. The years from 1986 to 1990 at my expansive middle-class suburban high school could have easily inspired the setting of Glenbrook North High School in Shermer, Illinois—complete with Saturday detentions.
In those days, we had our cliques and stereotypes, complete with a jock, a brain, a beauty, a recluse, and a rebel among my 1990 classmates. There were the popular kids at their lunch table, the quarterback driving his flashy sports car, and the cheerleader in her convertible. Then there were the band kids, who, as it turns out, had the last laugh—because they ended up in college marching bands, and we all looked forward to partying with them at football games. We were a mix of geniuses, artists, athletes, dreamers, and doers. Now, nearly three decades later, as we prepare to gather at a beach resort lounging by the pool and reminiscing about sneaking out of our homes, funneling beers, and lip-syncing to our favorite tunes, all those teenage facades will have faded away.
Life has had its way with all of us in these years. The masks we wore are gone; instead, we’re left with the raw reality of adulthood. By the time we’re in our early 40s, life doesn’t play favorites. It has tossed us all around, leaving us on equal footing. Twenty-five years of navigating adulthood has inevitably shaped the Class of 1990. We’ve faced unexpected challenges, experienced losses, and embraced new beginnings. And as we gather again, we’ll share our stories of what life has served us, reflecting on both happiness and sorrow.
Since we tossed our caps at graduation, we’ve collectively lost jobs, friends, loved ones, and perhaps even our sanity at times. We’ve shed pounds, inhibitions, and biases. We’ve endured disappointments and felt overwhelmed by responsibilities. Many of us have battled cancer and despair, and unfortunately, some of those battles were lost. Yet, it’s crucial to recognize what we’ve gained over these years.
We’ve acquired wisdom, insight, and resilience. We’ve gained children, stepchildren, and a network of friends we never knew we needed. We’ve found new purpose in careers, and many of us have discovered renewed strength within ourselves. We’ve faced life’s hardest days with grace and tenacity. And now, as we step into our 40s, we’re reclaiming our mojo.
As we walked out of graduation 25 years ago, we were all different—each of us embodying distinct roles: the recluse, the brain, the beauty, the rebel, and the jock. Now, we unite as the homemaker, the academic, the CEO, the traveler, and the therapist. While we may seem different on the surface, at our core, we remain the same. We are parents, partners, caregivers, and friends. We will leave our reunion with new memories to cherish, heading down our individual paths of life once more.
And until we meet again at our 50th, remember—don’t forget about me.
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Summary:
The article reflects on the emotional journey of a high school reunion after 25 years, exploring the changes in identity and life experiences that have shaped the participants since graduation. It highlights both the losses and the gains over the years, celebrating resilience and growth while emphasizing the bond that remains among classmates.