My husband and I graduated the same year from the same high school. My in-laws still live in the same neighborhood, so after leaving there one day we decided to stop by that old campus of ours.
I had visited the campus in past times before, but those visits never quite hit me like this visit did; I didn’t expect to feel the wave of nostalgia that I felt.
Funny, when people have asked me if I would go to my ten year high school reunion, I’d scoff and say,” Yeah right!”
But being on campus, I actually considered changing my mind. And wouldn’t you know it, my ten year high school reunion just happens to be coming up in 2017.
It’s like the reunion planning universe just knew people would feel nostalgic at the ten year mark…
So thinking about a ten year reunion, I’m thinking about what I would ask those old classmates of mine.
Would I be able to avoid the common small talk?
I once asked two people (at different occasions) how they’ve been and what they’ve been up to. Responses: “(Chuckle) Oh you know, just busy with work and school.”
I think they chuckled because they get that same question all the time, and give the same answers all the time. Small talk is cheap. From then I decided to ask better, thought-provoking questions. Questions that will require me to really listen and require them to dig deeper for responses. No more being basic and boring.
But what are those questions?
I put this into practice the other day when I said to the person, “Okay, don’t talk to me about school or work. What do you like to do for fun?” I think I caught him off guard, but got my desired results nonetheless.
So here are my tips on ten things to ask at your ten year reunion (that don’t directly have to do with work or school).
- What do you like to do for fun?
- Where have you travelled in the last year/ Where was the last place you travelled?
- What does your dream house look like?
- What advice would you give to people graduating high school?
- What were your thoughts when you got the invitation for the reunion?
- Were you listening to anything on the car ride over here? If so, what was it?
- Are you still interested in [blank] like you were in high school?
- What would I find out about you by looking at your Pinterest boards?
- What are you currently reading?
- So MySpace was big in our day. What has been your favorite social media platform so far, and why?
This list is by no means exhaustive. I’m just really trying to think of things that may be outside the box in order to keep things interesting.
It makes me a little nervous thinking about a reunion. Since this is a faith-based blog after all, I have to address the idea of a reunion from the eyes of a believer in Christ. I am a lot different than I was then. My husband and I both. Like, night and day different. How would we use this reunion as a way to witness? The neutral side of me would find ways to avoid talking about anything that has to do with “religion” (because I don’t want to be dubbed a weirdo, ya know). And being neutral in this situation can be so easy! Man, even talking about the bad things I did in my past could be so easy, but I know those past things are not things I want to highlight anymore.
But the only thing “neutral” about a Christian lifestyle is avoiding the wrong kind of extremes, and wanting peace and love for everyone.
For those of you who don’t believe in the Christian God, would you immediately tune out at the mere mention of Christianity? If so, why?
So how would I be the witness I need to be without being an overbearing religious weirdo?
How do I be a light in this world, even amongst people who may not want that light?
If I do decide to go to our reunion, let’s just hope the music isn’t blaring because my voice does not carry well in loud places lol.
Until next,
em
A Heart for Heaven 