chasm

I would never go back to high school. I had a blast, I give you that. But, it is tough to know who you really are, what matters to you, and what is really important in the grand scheme of things while high school it happening.

Every part of my life that has passed has been better than the last. I feel more confident in who I am, and what I can do. I loved college with a vengance. I love life right now like, well...like a fat kid loves cake :) I am smarter, stronger, tougher and ready to take over the world. Why in the world would I give that feeling up to go back to a place where there are rules, people in charge, curfews and band uniforms? Right now, I can do anything I want! I wouldn't give it up for the world....or for high school :)

I'm going to have to agree with Lori on this one. While sure, heading back to ten (good god) years ago with the knowledge I have now would change the game, it remains that reliving High School is the stuff of Nightmares.

And besides, despite not being Brad Pitt at the moment, the idea of going back to a time when my face looked like some sort of biological weapons testing area gives me the screaming heebie jeebies.

I've weighed in on this one before, and I maintain my position: I would go back to high school in a second.

Sure, all the things Lori mentioned are true, valid points. I wouldn't go back to high school because I don't like where I am now, but rather for the more simple qualities. Basically two main reasons: the effortlessness of living, and the people I was around every day.

Sure, there wern't paychecks and new cars; but there wern't contracts and BOEs either. Trade a conference room for a class room? Any day of the week. True, talking to girls was awkward; but scheduling software development plans is just so. My days consisted of going to school and hanging out after. Maybe it's monotonous, but it suited me just fine; at least I didn't have to worry about shipping out to I-can't-say-where to fix the latest problem of week!

Which brings me to my next point: hanging out. I supremely enjoyed being around the people I went to high school with, each and every one of you who reads this 'blog and others. Ok, so it may not have always seemed like it, but looking back now I'm sure that this is true. And what's the best part? Being able to hang out with those people every single day. Not something all of us can say now!

So, what makes or breaks the call? I'd have to be going back in time, and everyone would have to come with me. If I had to attend Allen as a high school student in 2005, forget it!

I do agree that I miss the every day hanging out with your best friends. A valid argument. But, I suppose in the end, life has to go on. I think that's one of the best things about it. Life is always changing. I still stick with it...no more high school for me :)

Ah, the age old question!!! :-) While admittedly, this one is getting tougher to answer, its still pretty easy. High School was the shit! I dont care that I was an unpopular loser, there was nothing like doing whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, no responsibilities. I had so many awesome times with my buds. High school was pretty much music and hanging out, that was it. The only thing that would stop me from going back is Corrine, thats it. Take the job, bills, responsibilities, and world realizations and shove em where the sun dont shine!

oh, and one more thing..... you can bet your last bottom dollar if I went back, Id be playing some Toby Keith on recital day!

Well, good to see so many comments already but I'm still waiting to hear from a couple people.

I think you know who you are.

I haven't decided whether I'd do it or not yet but here are my thoughts so far.

It's ironic to me that Lori thinks that she can do "anything [she] want[s] when, the longer I'm in the "real world", the LESS freedom I feel I have. Maybe she makes enough money that she can quit her job on a whim, pursue basket-weaving and travel across Europe for an entire summer if she desires but I, sadly, cannot. It seems debt (that I didn't have in highschool) is severly limiting my freedom compared to when I was in highschool.

Gar's absolutely right, hanging out daily in highschool is irreplaceable. They were, in terms of making friendships that will last my lifetime, the most important years of my life.

Jon makes the seemingly simple choice of swapping "job, bills, responsibilities, and world realizations" for just "hanging out" with friends. Who wouldn't? Jon also clearly throws a LARGE caveat about going back: a girl. This is where the difficulty of the question is evident to even the quickest volunteer to go back.

Would you risk all that you have in order to try it all again? The risk becomes greater every day. Think of all of the things that barely went "for" you or "against" you. Would the balance shift ever so slightly if you tried it all again?

As for going back with the knowledge I have now, I don't think so. For me, it's all about the novelty of first experiences. If for no other reason than to experience that first driving lesson, baseball game, fight, suspension, football game, crush, etc. I think it'd be worth it from that perspective. Good or bad, I'll take it all with the fullness of emotion brought by originality.

I don't want to say I'm entirely jaded and callous to the world now, however, there's no comparison to when I was in highschool. Everything was new and fresh. Now, not so much. Sure, there are new and exciting things to look forward to and to experience now but, it's not the same. There are certain feelings and emotions that will never take place again ... it was a one time thing and many of those times were in highschool for me.

I one hundred percent agree with what Tom said. I would go back for those "feelings" and carefree fun in a minute, but knowing what I know now I would be bored and probably unsatisfied with petty high school issues. I would have said hands down yes to high school while I was in college because I hated my life then and everyday got worse then the one before, the only reason I graduated early was to regain my sanity which I obviously lost for a few years. However, now I am happy and i love my life now, so I do not feel the same driving urge to go back to high school. I will always miss those "feelings" though.

I would go back to high school in a heartbeat. There is something very attractive about not being accountable. I mean, I'm almost twenty-three... and there will never be another forum like high school again... things are only going to get more complicated from now on... (jobs, creditors, etc.)

I would love to go back to the times where the biggest dilemma were where I was going to eat after a football game or what MP3 to throw on while I was hanging out with the guys.

As Gar said, I would require that my friends acccompany me... and I would need the same teachers to make the experience as fulfilling as the first go-round. :-)

I guess the differene for you and I Tom, is that money doesn't hold me back. And no, I do not make nearly enough money to quit my job and pursue basket weaving. I would paint glassware ;) There is more freedom now. Like I said, no curfew, no rules, no nothing. I could quit my job and travel around Europe, I would make it work. Naturally, I would only acrew more debt, but so be it. I slowly work my way into paying them off. And the day I do, will be the best day ever :) You say that you lost those new feelings, but there are always new things to experience. The first time you move into your own apartment, your first favorite job, getting married, having kids, buying houses. I am looking forward to these new experiences, not missing the old ones.

Ha, I'm betting a lot of people are laughing just thinking about money holding me back from something. As for "no curfew, no rules, no nothing" ... yeah, I had that in high school.

As for the new feelings, I can't say any of those potentially-upcoming-experiences you listed are all that tempting to me right now. They simply build on things I've already experienced and that's not the same thing as the "first" time.

Moving into an apartment, hmmm, let's be realistic here, my suite here is essentially like living alone in my own apartment. I don't see anyone else in the morning at all and only rarely in the evening. Finding a "favorite" job ... not highly likely. Getting married? I can't imagine what that would be like, riiiiiiight. Having kids, that's just crazy-talk. Buying "houses" - and I thought I was materialistic. Not even I can list that as a worthwhile "experience" to be excited about.

The reason it is not like your own apartment is because you don't have to pay rent. And even though you don't see them, your family is there.

I dont view buying a house as materialistic. I did not say, the biggest, baddest house that my million of dollars can buy. I am talking about a place where I can live my life, raise my family, have a BBQ. Where I can plant a garden and repaint the house if I want to. A home is what I am referring to, not a deed to a piece of property. You know Tom, I dont think you get me at all. ;)

And you can find your favorite job....it just might not be in allentown yet.

Right, I do anything and everything I want here, WITHOUT rent or mortgage payments. I'm confused about what I should look forward to :-)

I have a home. My family is around when I need them and I couldn't really ask for more. It happens to be the home I've lived in for 25 years. It comes free and with no real strings attached. One day I will truly own my own home ... and I'll live pretty much as I do now ... but with a mortgage ... booooo.

Lori, I get you ... you just don't get me and how good my life has been.

I know your life has been good Tom. That's the whole point. That's why you want to go back and don't want to change. I have always been this way, always looking ahead. That's me.

I feel almost like we are arguing, which is funny, since we are online....strikes me as funny, I don't know why.

We are different people with different values, that's all it is. I am never going to agree with you on this. You are never going to agree with me. I started writing another counterpoint, and realized how ridiculous it was. It could go on forever, knowing you and I.

Believe me, I know how delightful your life has been. I wish everyone's could be the same.

This would be such a great conversation for the porch swing at 3am. See....I know you :)

Nah, no arguing here, just exchanging thoughts. It WOULD be a good porch conversation in the middle of the night ... I know you miss them as much as I do.

Its my swing damn it!

As much fun as high school was, I would never go back. I have the best memories of that time, but I would never give up what I have now. As exciting as all those "firsts" were, I'm equally, or more excited about the rest of my life. I mean, yes now I have a job and a husband and there are more responsibilites, but I have more free time than I ever did in high school or college. I always went to school AND had a job, so that left me with very little free time compared to those lucky enough to spend all that time hanging out (you know who you are). I think i have more time now to enjoy my life. I also just really value all of the experiences I've had up to this point. I wouldn't want to go back and risk making different choices, and I think I would be too bored (as Karen said) with high school stuff if I retained my current knowledge.
So I wouldn't go back, but I'm definitly thankful for all the wonderful times I had with all of you.

i think i would actually not go back. looking back, i had a great high school experience. why would i want to change that? if i went back knowing what i know now - i would be a totally different person now. im not sure if i want to be any different than i am today.

It strikes me that so many people want to be exactly who they are. Kudos to everyone that is living the life they think they should be.

I don't think its about living the life you think you should be. More about being appreciative everyday for what you do have, and where your life is...not always wondering what if? You could do that your whole life through and never find the answer.

Yes, you COULD wonder about "what if?" your whole life, however, nothing is good in the extreme. It's all about moderation. Going through life and NEVER wondering is just as terrible as wondering the entire time.

I agree with that too. But, I tend to wonder, what else can I earn, do, study, learn, etc.... Not what am I missing out on? It's the same thing really, but a half glass full mentality.