Preparing For Your High School Reunion

Some people view a class reunion as a rite of passage, while others may see it as a painful reminder of time marching on. Whatever your personal take on a class reunion, you can usually count on receiving an invitation every ten years or so. Preparing yourself for a class reunion involves a number of emotional, logistical and financial considerations you won't find on the official invitation from your high school class reunion committee.

It is not unusual to have mixed emotions about attending a class reunion. While the possibility of reconnecting with former friends can be exciting, there is also the possibility of rekindling a few not so fond memories. One way to prepare for a class reunion emotionally is to keep your expectations realistic. Thirty and forty year reunions can be especially variable, since many of the participants may be enjoying working at good jobs while others may be struggling to attain financial stability. Still others may or may not be enjoying retirement. 

Consider the bittersweet nature of a class reunion. You may discover that some classmates have passed away since graduation, while others have faced major upheavals in their lives. While the nostalgic elements of a class reunion often take center stage, it may help to view your classmates as contemporaries facing the same adult challenges you face. Try to relate to the 48, 58 or 68 year old grandmother as much as the 18-year-old classmate you remember. 

One consideration when preparing for a class reunion is logistics. The official invitation should include times and dates of the event itself, but transportation and lodging are your responsibility. You may have to request several days of vacation or personal time from your employer. Your spouse may also have to make special arrangements in order to accompany you to the class reunion. Travel could mean packing the family car or reserving tickets for the nearest airport to the venue. Some attendees contact former friends who still live in the area for overnight housing. 

Financially, the cost of a class reunion can be prohibitive. Besides the traveling expenses, the price of the tickets is often substantial. There may also be other events scheduled throughout the reunion weekend, each with their own costs. Be prepared to budget extra money for entertainment, food and beverages. 

Some things you may want to pack for a class reunion include yearbooks, photographs from high school days, current photographs of your family, and a blank scrapbook for class reunion events. The most important thing to remember is to live in the moment whenever possible. A class reunion can be a very positive and memorable milestone in any adult's life.

Top Ten Reasons for Attending Your Class Reunion

10. To humor the reunion committee…. Who want everyone to appreciate all their efforts.

 9. To feel better that you are not the only one to not live up to your potential.

 8. Its an opportunity to show off the BMW before the lease is up.

 7. Show everyone the 10lbs you lost by investing in the Atkins Diet, the Scarsdale Diet, Jenny Craig, Slimfast and Weight Watchers.

 6  It could be the last opportunity to see classmates before you lose the rest of your hair.

 5. Chance to prepare for your old age by telling the same story over and over again to the group who might be able to fill in the memory gaps.

 4. May be the only place left where you have a chance to be the youngest person in the room.

 3. A place where social security becomes an interesting topic of conversation.

 2. It’s the only place where everyone tells you that you look the same.

 1. Can remind you again why you only see these people every 20 years.

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