Prep for my 20th High School Reunion: The Profile
By an overwhelming majority, the “downs” have the vote. Thanks to all who helped me make this life-altering decision, including this guy, who provided his vote in person, and Kelsey, who provided her vote via the boy and IM. Sorry Raquita and Justin, you were totally outvoted. Air kisses to Angela for the compliment; you’re lovely, too. We’ll have to compare notes on high school reunions. (I invented the Post-It!)
The profile, which you can see here, also asks for responses to a few interesting questions, for instance:
What has been your most “unique experience” since high school? (Besides marriage, kids, etc.)
I’ve been pondering possible answers. I could write:
A. Earning a Guinness Book World Record for creating the world’s largest bouquet of flowers at the Missouri Botanical Garden. (That was 1998, and 27,801 stems, for those of you playing the Marijean Jaggers trivia at-home game. The record was broken a few years later. For the record, it was fun, and a huge PR hit, but I’ll never do that again. I may break some other record, but I don’t anticipate creating a huge bouquet ever again.); or
B. Hiking a portion of the Napali Coast on Kauai in Hawaii with my husband, kids and in-laws. (Also fun, and I’d do it again.); or
C. Graduating from college with my husband, entire family and five-year-old son in attendance. (I know this isn’t supposed to be about kids, marriage, etc. but I’m awfully proud of this accomplishment, given what most of my high school friends knew of me last was that after my freshman year of college, I didn’t return to school, got married and had a baby. For all they know, I never made it back on the college track.)
Vote for the best “unique experience” in the comments.
The second question is: If you could do it all over again, what would you change about high school?
What would you say?
April 16th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
I’d go with option A, as how many people do you know have a spot in the GBWR?
As for the second question, I’d have to say that I wish I’d studied harder. I was on honor roll, top classes, etc., but I never learned to truly study and organize myself and simply coasted instead, which meant that my first semester at UVA was a huge shock and I nearly flunked out.
Also, I wish I’d been less concerned about cliques and popularity in H.S., but you know what they say about hindsight.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Jen, for the second question, I agree — I wish I’d cared less about what other people thought and I also wish I’d spent more time with the friends I had my senior year than all the time I spent with this boyfriend or that.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I’m voting for Na Pali, though you’ll need to elaborate or give some sort of insight as to why the hike is noteworthy.
Please note that my vote may be skewed because James and I kayaked Na Pali in June. It was an amazing adventure, probably the most physically challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was worth it to be rewarded with breathtaking scenery (when I took a moment to look….I was kinda busy paddling for my life) found nowhere else on the planet.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I’d say option A as well, though option C should be brought up in conversation whenever possible.
But, I mean, a world record? A claim to fame if ever there was one.
What I would have changed: my freshman year a friend contracted encephalitis. Instead of visiting him in the hospital, I sent him a card that jokingly insulted him.
Then he died.
I hate that that was the last thing he had of me.
I never hugged him, but I wish I had.
April 17th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I’m going with A, but agree that C should be brought up and I’m sure B is a good story, but I know nothing about Na Pali.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Go with A. It’s funny, unique and sure to stand out.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:38 am
I’m all for C — it’s a great acomplishment
as for what would I change — where do I start?
D-
April 17th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Go with B - who would believe a trip with the in-laws? Guiness records come and go!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Hmmm–As one who is also pondering these same questions
I say, why settle for one thing–mention them all! I have very little to say, unless getting caught by a bunch of Norwegians naked in a hot tub in Malta (2000)with Mary Jo Curry qualifies as interesting. Somewhat less interesting than it sounds, anyway, since my husband and another male were present, so there was no girl on girl or anything like that.
What would I change–definitely date more and moon less over individual boys, and instead of going to the college my boyfriend was already attending, I’d have bought a good backpack, a Eurorail ticket and spent a year or ten in Europe.