Top 12 Reasons to Attend Your 30th

"Gunn Class of 1980"

 High School Reunion

12. We "survived" the 60's, the 70's, even the 80's, made it through the 90's,Y2K & the first Decade of the 21st Century! Yippee!!!

11. You've not thought about getting into shape since the last reunion.

10. There will be NO Karaoke night, or WET T-Shirt contests, EVEN IF REQUESTED...

9. You want to try to dance one more time before it's time for your hip or knee replacement.

 8. You want to squash 30 years of rumors about you...and possibly start new & improved ones.

7. Paris, Britney or Lindsay won't be there unless invited         ofcourse...

6. You don't have to ask for the keys to the family car or sneak out a window to be with your friends & we will have "designated drivers"!

5. You can feel better knowing you're not the only who's experienced a "starter" marriage" and/or is single again or still...& we all have reason to Celebrate!  We can still make it to the reunion!

4. To see what color the girls' hair is now & to see how many of the guys still have hair.

3. There will be NO men's Speedo swimsuit competition, EVEN IF REQUESTED!

2.You don't have to lie about your age. We know how old you are. (BUT BE FOREWARNED...WE'VE SOMEHOW TURNED INTO OUR PARENTS!)

And the NUMBER ONE reason to attend your 30^th class reunion is….
1. It will be FUN!!! You can reconnect with old friends, make connections with new friends, and re-capture the "joys of youth".

The reunion won't be the same without you. PLAN TO BE THERE!

 

 

 

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT MISS YOUR CLASS REUNION... 

Most certainly many former students, no matter what high school they attended, ask the age old question, "Why should I attend my class reunion?" It is a valid question, and I am sure if you expend a large allotment of time and mental effort, one could find a myriad of reasons not to make an appearance.

Some of us will choose not to attend because we are concerned about appearances of all types..

"Man, I can't attend because I've changed so much..." or "I've changed, but no one else has..."
"Gee, what if people discover that I'm not where I want them to think I am..."
"I'm so past that high school thing...I've moved on and so should they..."

We are not entirely the "same" people that took those final steps from those memorable halls of Henry M Gunn 30 years ago. Back then we were all fresh faces, some with dreams in hand and spirit, eager to stamp our own unique signature into this temporal world. Some of those dreams came to fruition. For others, dreams changed and evolved into a different and marvelous reality unfathomable as mere kids.

Whatever we have become, for the most part we are far better people than when we left the launching pad back in 1980. We are more articulate, expressive and more self assured of ourselves. We have the ability to fight through the insecurities of youth and peer pressure that limited the full potential that resided; chained deep within our psyches. For once we can reveal our true selves and in return uncover the 'undiscovered country' in our friend's lives. We are more complete people.

It is a time of rediscovering why we were all friends and companions at one time. The fact that we have shared a common experience during our youth, is the social glue that beckons at the core of our souls to come home, and reconect one more time.

It is our hope that you join us and have a blast at your reunion. Understand that time is a precious and limited commodity. Invest it wisely and reap the wealth in a payout of smiles, laughs and love. Please join us...and help us celebrate Life and the fact that we still are able to celebrate!

 

How can I survive my high school reunion?

 

Just relax and come have Fun!!!

 

In life, there are certain things you must deal with once a decade.

Renew your driver's license.

Get a colonoscopy.

Decide if you're going to attend your high school reunion.

Every 10 years, you'll probably receive an invitation to revisit the years that you spent wishing away pimples and dreaming about the hottie in homeroom.

If you were prom queen or starting quarterback, if you still have your figure and/or your hair and you're now CEO of a successful corporation, then your only decision will be whether to take the BMW or the Porsche.

But for most everyone else, the thought of seeing all those old faces stirs a potent mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Will they remember you as an immature, self-centered teenager or will they see the much-improved adult you've become? Have your looks stood the test of time? Will you have anything to say to people you haven't seen in years?

If you're mulling whether or not to attend your reunion, here are some things to consider – and ways to prepare for your journey back in time.

Why am I so nervous?

It's normal to worry that your old classmates will judge you for who you were then, instead of the mature, accomplished adult you are now.

“One thing you have to remember is that everyone is in the same boat,” said Lynn Thompson, owner of Carlsbad-based Reunion Specialists. “You are 10, 20, 30 or 40 years more mature and more experienced. You're not the same person you were, and neither are they.”

My career has had more downs than ups, and I recently got divorced. I don't want to explain all of that.

So what if you've never become a titan of business or renowned brain surgeon? The older you are, the more likely it is that everyone else in the room has suffered their own disappointments, from failed businesses to failed marriages.

Before you go, think about what makes you happy, whether it's your children or your travels, and talk about that.

Should I bring my spouse or significant other?

About half do, half don't, Thompson said. If your spouse or partner doesn't need a lot of your attention at social functions, then go ahead, Thompson said.

If you're worried about not having anyone to talk to, it's also OK to bring a friend or sibling, perhaps someone who graduated another year from the same school, Thompson said.

I've gained a lot of weight and I'm not sure I want anyone to see me.

You can try dieting, exercising and booking your Botox/teeth-whitening appointments. Or you can try not to worry about it so much.

In a survey of 277 adults before and after they attended reunions, many expressed fears about being judged harshly by their former classmates.

Yet hardly anyone said they were interested in doing that to others, said Glenn Reeder, a professor of psychology at Illinois State University.

“People get nervous when they think the purpose of the reunion is to show other people how successful they are, or compare who's gained weight,” Reeder said. “But that's not why most people go.”

What should I wear?

Choose an outfit that's flattering and comfortable, and cross your fingers that the organizers haven't chosen a tropical theme. Floral dresses and Hawaiian shirts don't do anyone any favors.

Women can't go wrong with a simple dress and heels. For men, a dress shirt, slacks and maybe a jacket will work.

There will always be one guy wearing shorts and flip-flops and one woman in a fire-engine red, sequined number. Let it not be you.

I was part of the “in” crowd in high school. Frankly, I wasn't always so nice.

Whether you were the geek or the snob, well, they don't call it adolescent behavior for nothing. Some people apologize for past behavior in their reunion bios, Thompson said.

I was not part of the “in” crowd. In fact, I remember high school as something to be endured.

If there are wounds that haven't fully healed, use the event as an opportunity to replace those old memories with new ones.

Some of those old classmates have probably grown into people you will like a lot better today than you did then.

I'm still feeling unsure. Give me one good reason why I should go.

Reunions can be great for rekindling old romances and networking. But the main reason to go is that you'll probably have a good time.

In the survey of reunion attendees, nearly everyone reported having fun.

“The older the respondent was, the more they enjoyed the reunion,” Reeder said. “As you age, you're a long way from those high school cliques and are just happy to make connections with people you once knew.”

Jenifer Goodwin