Old High School Friends

[Anonymous]

like most of us, I went to the same HS as my siblings. And my kids went to the same HS.

Whether you keep in touch with your friends is just about the friend group. Some classes are kinda duds. And some kids are not their best themselves during HS.

My siblings range from going to Europe with friends to never going to a reunion. My kids are mostly tight but one has a much larger group than the other who has a small circle of 3 guys.

I dont think any of this has anything to do with 'these days' etc

[Anonymous]

My class of '23 child is very close with a few high school friends. My class of '21 child isn't as things never jelled the same with the pandemic. they went to a private DC HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do your college students see their old high school friends when they come home or have they drifted apart?

What about you OP, did you see your old High School's friends when you came home from College or have you all drifted apart?

I've had acquaintances from High School and College throughout the years... but only ONE dear friend still around. We have a lot in common so that's why the relationship has lasted this long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Very much.
Small private - these kids from home are the forever friends.

Yep. It's different than when we were kids. With social media and texting they all keep in very close touch. My kids will know their high school friends until they're 80.

Is it so different? My ride-or-die best friend in the world is a high school friend. We went to college in different states and have never lived in the same place again. My three siblings' wedding parties included high school friends. I don't think this is any different from before. Some people stay close, others don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it says more about the kids high school experience and it says about anything else. If they’re not keeping in touch, they didn’t have close friends there. That’s it.

Not necessarily. People change once they move on to new stages in life and drift apart. Sometimes high school friendships are just a matter of convenience (being at the same place at the same time). I'm from a rural area and I'm pretty liberal. Many people who I grew up with are moderate/conservative, religious, etc. Once I left that area and moved to the closest large city and came into my own, those friends drifted from me as we didn't share many commonalities.

[Anonymous]

Yes, both my kids have remained close friends with their best friends from HS (who mostly had also been close friends since elementary school).

DS, recently graduated from college, lives back in our city and mostly hangs out with the guys he's known since elementary school. There are a couple friends added to the group from college.

[Anonymous]

There's nothing wrong with keeping in touch with high school friends and reconvening over breaks, but clinging too tightly to people from back home is usually a sign that one hasn't moved on and fully embraced the college experience. I've noticed this is rarely an issue for kids who join Greek life. When my own freshman came home and met up with his high school buds, the difference was stark. The fraternity men were telling story after story about their first semester of college, the crazy fun they were having, the girls they were getting, etc. The GDIs were reminiscing about the good old days of high school and didn't have much to say about college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's nothing wrong with keeping in touch with high school friends and reconvening over breaks, but clinging too tightly to people from back home is usually a sign that one hasn't moved on and fully embraced the college experience. I've noticed this is rarely an issue for kids who join Greek life. When my own freshman came home and met up with his high school buds, the difference was stark. The fraternity men were telling story after story about their first semester of college, the crazy fun they were having, the girls they were getting, etc. The GDIs were reminiscing about the good old days of high school and didn't have much to say about college.

Greek gods don't have time for old friends!

[Anonymous]

Both have made new friends as close or closer than the old ones; both keep up with 2-3 high school besties. Private K-12, both attend ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:like most of us, I went to the same HS as my siblings. And my kids went to the same HS.

Whether you keep in touch with your friends is just about the friend group. Some classes are kinda duds. And some kids are not their best themselves during HS.

My siblings range from going to Europe with friends to never going to a reunion. My kids are mostly tight but one has a much larger group than the other who has a small circle of 3 guys.

I dont think any of this has anything to do with 'these days' etc

This is the difference maker. People very tied to one place, either through going back themselves to live there or parents who they visit often, will maybe stay close to HS friends. Other people move on. Social media and texting are great but proximity is still the driving factor for who you will remain close friends with.

I do have a couple college friends who I have kept up relationships with for 30+ years at this point despite never living in the same place after college. But it takes work on both parts and I don't see them more than once a year. So it's valued friendships, but not either my day to day community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's nothing wrong with keeping in touch with high school friends and reconvening over breaks, but clinging too tightly to people from back home is usually a sign that one hasn't moved on and fully embraced the college experience. I've noticed this is rarely an issue for kids who join Greek life. When my own freshman came home and met up with his high school buds, the difference was stark. The fraternity men were telling story after story about their first semester of college, the crazy fun they were having, the girls they were getting, etc. The GDIs were reminiscing about the good old days of high school and didn't have much to say about college.

greek life mom make it sound like a cult! forget your old fiends. burn grandma's number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's nothing wrong with keeping in touch with high school friends and reconvening over breaks, but clinging too tightly to people from back home is usually a sign that one hasn't moved on and fully embraced the college experience. I've noticed this is rarely an issue for kids who join Greek life. When my own freshman came home and met up with his high school buds, the difference was stark. The fraternity men were telling story after story about their first semester of college, the crazy fun they were having, the girls they were getting, etc. The GDIs were reminiscing about the good old days of high school and didn't have much to say about college.

Its 60yo frat dad again with his 1980s frat memories coloring his worldview 45 years later

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's nothing wrong with keeping in touch with high school friends and reconvening over breaks, but clinging too tightly to people from back home is usually a sign that one hasn't moved on and fully embraced the college experience. I've noticed this is rarely an issue for kids who join Greek life. When my own freshman came home and met up with his high school buds, the difference was stark. The fraternity men were telling story after story about their first semester of college, the crazy fun they were having, the girls they were getting, etc. The GDIs were reminiscing about the good old days of high school and didn't have much to say about college.

greek life mom make it sound like a cult! forget your old fiends. burn grandma's number.

Only a dad would say the part about getting girls. He says the same thing on almost every thread

[Anonymous]

Yes but they aren’t all here all the time or at the same time like when I went to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's nothing wrong with keeping in touch with high school friends and reconvening over breaks, but clinging too tightly to people from back home is usually a sign that one hasn't moved on and fully embraced the college experience. I've noticed this is rarely an issue for kids who join Greek life. When my own freshman came home and met up with his high school buds, the difference was stark. The fraternity men were telling story after story about their first semester of college, the crazy fun they were having, the girls they were getting, etc. The GDIs were reminiscing about the good old days of high school and didn't have much to say about college.

Its 60yo frat dad again with his 1980s frat memories coloring his worldview 45 years later

LOL