Are high school reunions a good idea?

Hello my old classmate, are you ready to catch up? I know many people who are looking forward to their high school reunion. There is always that one person who wants to dominate the small talk and make sure everyone at the party remembers how well they have done. For this reason alone, that makes me want to avoid attending any kind of high school reunion.

But in a bigger sense, are high school reunions good or a bad idea?

Good and bad things about high school reunions.

High school reunions are a big deal. They're an opportunity to see old friends, celebrate and reflect on the past. But they're also an opportunity to make new memories, rekindle old flames and maybe even start new relationships. High school reunions are important because they allow you to reconnect with people who were once so important to you.

If you lost touch with your high school friends years ago, it's time to reconnect. But there are also some drawbacks to high school reunions: They can be expensive. The cost of travel, accommodations, food and drinks can add up quickly when you're planning an event for hundreds of people.

Hosting a reunion can be costly — especially if it takes place in a large city where hotel rooms cost more than $200 per night. If you have several hundred guests coming from all over the country or world, the cost to hold your event may be prohibitively expensive for many people who want to attend.

They don't always live up to expectations. You may recall fond memories from high school but seeing them again after many years may not be as exciting as you think it will be.

Reunions can be a good way to reconnect

High school reunions can be a good way to reconnect with old friends and classmates. If you're going to attend, follow these tips for making the most of your reunion: Be prepared. Check out the school's website or call the alumni office to find out what kind of event they're planning.

You might find information on ticket sales, registration and parking in advance. Dress appropriately. Your high school reunion is not a place to show off your new look or wardrobe. Wear something that will make you feel comfortable and confident, but don't go overboard with trendy clothing or accessories that might embarrass you later on.

Bring a photo album or scrapbook to help jog memories and give people who didn't attend your class a glimpse into what your specific year looked like. If you don't have time to do this yourself, ask one of your classmates if he or she would be willing to do it for you — some may even offer as a favor!

Chat up everyone who comes through the door. Don't stick with just one group of friends from high school — greet all of them warmly and make an effort to talk with people who were not in your grade level or didn't attend your school at all (if applicable).

Reunions can be a way to re-open old wounds.

The answer depends on how you define the word "reunion." If you mean a get-together of former classmates, then no, they're not dead. They've been around for decades, and they will continue to be so. But if you mean the kind of reunion that involves a lot of partying and carousing, then yes — high school reunions are officially dead, at least in my book.

I went to a very small high school in rural Pennsylvania and graduated with about 100 students. I don't know many people from my class who have never moved away from home, but when I talk to them on Facebook or by phone, it sounds like most of them are doing well enough.

They've figured out what they want from life and have chosen paths toward achieving those goals. But when I was invited to my 10th reunion this summer, I declined because it just didn't seem like something I wanted to do. My classmates weren't people I cared about very much back then, and now that we're older and have more important things going on in our lives (careers, families), it doesn't make sense for us to get together and relive our glory days as teenagers back when we were all young and dumb.

Who should go and who shouldn't attend?

Are high school reunions a good idea? Who should go and who shouldn't attend? I often get asked if it's worth attending a high school reunion. I've been to several, but I don't think they're for everyone. As a general rule, if you were popular in high school, then you should probably go.

If you were not, then you should consider skipping the trip down memory lane. Here are some reasons why you might want to go: If you're still friends with people from high school, it's nice to see them again. Make sure the people you plan to see are actually planning on going before booking your flight!

Otherwise, all those good intentions could go up in smoke when no one shows up at the airport! If you've moved away from home and haven't seen anyone in years, it's nice to catch up with old friends and family members who remain close by — especially if they're coming in from out of town for the event.

Plus, it's always fun to hear what people have been up to since graduation day! Reunions can be an excellent way to reconnect with old classmates who live far away and whom we might not otherwise get to see very often (if ever).

In a nutshell

After all of that, you may be asking yourself, "Why do I have to waste time and money on something like this?" After all, it's only an hour and a half out of your life and maybe the price of a drink. You've grown up since high school. You've accomplished so much.

Why go through the torment of being around people you probably don't want anything to do with anyways?