12 People Whose Glory Days Were In High School Describe Where Life Took Them Next
High school is a weird little kingdom where the social ladder is everything, and climbing to the top feels like you’ve conquered the entire world. Your letterman jacket is your crown, and the yearbook is your book of achievements, a permanent record of your reign.
But then graduation happens, and the kingdom dissolves. The cheering stops, the hierarchies vanish, and you're just another person trying to figure out how to do laundry and pay taxes. Netizens posed a fascinating question to those who admittedly "peaked in high school," and the brutally honest answers paint a sobering picture of life after the glory days.
More info: Reddit
#1
29 male. Until recently, High-school was the peak of my life. In high school I was good looking, popular, athletic, and a decent student. My parents were rich and I had a BMW. I played varsity soccer all 4 years at a school of 2500 kids and was recruited by division 1 schools all over the country. College was a good experience as well until the very end when I realized I was not good enough to become a pro soccer player. I graduated with a communications degree because I had no idea what I wanted to do. Big Mistake.
After college I had a horrible time finding a job. I ended up working the front desk at the gym near my parents house for 3 years. I would open the gym at 5am 5 days a week. A lot of the people that came in would be people I knew in high school. Sometimes they would act like they didn't know who I was in order to avoid an awkward situation, which just made it worse. There was a girl that I went to a dance with Sophomore year that would come in every morning. My job is to greet anyone that walks in so the first few times I would say hi "name" and she would swipe her card and completely ignore me. At a certain point my parents stopped helping me with money and I couldn't afford to fill my gas tank. I would ride my old bike from when I was a little kid to work. Sometime rain, snow whatever.
Then my father was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and died within 4 months. He was very successful but not the greatest with money. To help my mom pay bills, I sold his car, his vacation home, and had her drop their country club membership.
One day my uncle decided to take me to lunch to discuss my future. I'm actually tearing up about writing this part. He had a contact at a local tech company that had a few openings for customer service reps. I didn't even ask what it paid. I interviewed for it and was hired. It paid 25K and to me that was a ton of money.
5 years later I still work at that company and moved up to an Engineering position after passing certifications. I have a beautiful wife and daughter, and we live in a nice little house.
edit: Thank you all for the comments.
Image credits: anon
#2
I don't like to think you peak once in your lifetime. Life is a series of up and downs, so if you're reading this thinking you've peaked, you can always turn it around.
My friend thinks she peaked in high school, but I'm still holding out hope for her. Yes, she was the top academically, athletically, socially. But what followed was a series of medical conditions, depression, feeling hopeless, losing interest and passion. Some days she feels better, some days she doesn't. And that's okay. I hope one day she can again feel like she is happy.
There are many years left for your life. There are many years to find a new peak. And life is about the journey. Don't give up.
Where's /u/motivatinggiraffe?
Edit: Thanks to whomever touched me with their golden finger! It made my day. I hope the karma passes onto you in real life.
Image credits: rissm
#3
All these people complaining about how their 20's/30's have sucked and I'm just sitting here, waiting to peak the first time.
Image credits: Ratjar142
#4
I peaked in high school so hard, that recently I bought a time travel machine. I wanted to go back, but it didn't work. I probably forgot to put in the crystals. If Coach has put me in, we'd have won state.
Now I'm busy babysitting my weird nephews, living out of a van, and selling Tupperware.
How much you want to bet I can throw a football over 'dem mountains?
Image credits: anon
#5
I guess I peaked in high school. Had a ton of friends, popular, great grades, was on a varsity team, met/dated my first girlfriend.
My best friends are still the friends I made in high school. In college and afterwards, I never met anyone as cool/great as them.
I'm kind of lost in life right now. I'm 24, and no idea what I want to do with my life. I miss my best friends. I miss having no responsibility. I miss Fridays after school where we would all pile into one car and take on the world and chase girls and play video games and do nothing.
I miss all that so much.
Image credits: textherfirst
#6
Private school in Germany: Most of the popular kids went into economics. One of them keeps making startups and selling them.
High school in rural Florida: One of them just finished some kinda dental school type undergrad. Happy for her. Most of the popular girls went on to become mums primarily; even the smart but slightly awkward one got her degree and then became a full-time mother.
Sixthform in England: One guy keeps going on trains without tickets and getting caught; he's also some sort of EDL type now. One girl graduated from uni a few days ago and is hosting entrepreneurship workshops. One is doing psychology at the same university I went to.
Image credits: Kalivha
#7
Just saw them last night at my local bar, they're playing billiards and drinking $2 Yuenglings while listening to Sublime.
Image credits: animesekaielric
#8
I always joke to my friends that I peaked too early and in high school.
Not to humblebrag but I was friends with kids in every year, almost all my teachers loved me, I had a 4.0, won Mr. North (my HS name). Even in my yearbook I had to add an additional 6 pages because there wasn't enough space for people to write/sign mine. I could literally pick and choose between the girls that wanted to date/hookup with because there were enough that wanted me.
Since then, I was an average student in college, had a decent amount of friends and settled into my first long term relationship (after a few failed attempts). I joined a fraternity and no more sports. During college, I was diagnosed with bipolar and that's something that I had to really learn to deal with. After graduation, got a decent job as a social worker but I love it and I love what I do and I love my life.
I definitely have fewer friends, but that was partially by choice. Growing older, I learned that it's literally impossible to have as many friends as I did in HS and it's just too much effort and not worth it. I have fewer friends but they are of better quality and I'm glad that's how it is.
It seems that life isn't as exciting, but I enjoy it just as much because there's a point where the Bruce Wayne/homecoming king lifestyle suddenly stops becoming fulfilling. Yea it can bring temporary happiness but I really had to take a look at my life as a whole and what I wanted to do with it. My life isn't terrible, per se, but it's certainly fairly average compared to the HS celebrity status.
Image credits: anon
#9
A lot of people have a bitter view at people who had a good time in highschool. I think its absolutely possible for highschool to be some of the best times of your life under certain conditions. Doesn't mean you're a loser adult.
I mean, my parents actually trusted me as a teen, so I didn't really gain any freedom when I hit adulthood, I had already been used to going out when I wanted. Relationships were easier, I kept summer jobs so I had tons of income I could blow on whatever with no bills to pay. Life will never be that easy again. And Im not lost in life or anything, got a wonderful girlfriend, we have our own place, live in a town I love with a circle of great friends. Adulthood is fine, its just that the teen years felt like easy mode I guess.
I can see where people are coming from if they had parents who had them on lockdown though.
Image credits: Darrian
#10
I was a joke/loser in high school. Now I'm 20 and only have 12 hours of college credit.
Tl;dr You can fail in life without being popular.
Image credits: sihtotnidaertnod
#11
At my highschool, you were popular if you were both smart and in sports. Most of the most popular guys are now off doing some pretty interesting things.
One guy is a teacher in Thailand, another guy has a Master's from Cambridge in Astronomy and is working on his PhD in Physics at Harvard.
My school was a little different, I guess.
Image credits: argole
#12
Pretty frustrating at times.
In school I represented my school in every sport and was in the top set for all my classes. Because I was respected for both my sporting and academic qualities I got on with everyone and had a great time.
Unfortunately I moved away from my friends for college and university and you actually had to put effort in to get those top grades, I realised this too late. Whilst I certainly didn't fail or drop out, I definitely fell short of my capabilities.
After graduating finding a decent job was difficult due to the region I was living in. Eventually stumbled into a good opportunity but it required me to move to the other end of the country, away from family and friends. Decided to take the plunge and I'm still working here 2 years on, doing more hobbies than ever, networking and making connections. Made some great new friends, but still the 'new guy' in my social groups.
One of the most frustrating things is my position at work, I know I'm doing a good job and constantly taking on new responsibilities but there's very little recognition due to the obscurity surrounding my specific role in the company. To compound this I see colleagues around me who are inept at their jobs and yet earn a significant amount more, although I suppose this is something most people can relate with early in their professional career.
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