What screams ‘this person peaked in high school’? – 15 ways premature overachievers tell on themselves
Ah, high school – a beautiful, chaotic time where we find out about life, love, loss, and how hard it can be to find the right table to sit at for lunch in the cafeteria.
Those of us who thrived in high school seemed to have it all. Those of us who weren’t as popular probably dreaded those five minute walks between classrooms. But it probably wasn’t as good as it looked or as bad as it felt.
That’s because time is undefeated, and those of us who were on top of the world in high school didn’t stay there. It’s painful to deal with that truth, as this Reddit query suggests.
Redditor u/realHDNA asked:
“What screams ‘this person peaked in high school’ to you?”
Your prom king and queen aren’t fooling anyone with those throwback pics on social media. It’s over for them and these are the easiest ways to tell.
1.
‘I used to work with a guy who was very muscular, very masculine, and made sure everyone was aware of those things about him. One day, I was sitting next to him in the break room, and he started to tell me, unprompted as always, about how he went to attend an award ceremony for his son who won something regarding his football performance. I said, “Well, that was nice of you to go and support him!” and he responded, “Nice? It was sad, man. That used to be me. Now, I’m the old guy in the room who has to watch someone else win something I should have had.” All I could think was what a loser. … He couldn’t just be proud of his son?!’
—gamercboy5
2.
‘A girl I went to high school with has posted pictures on Facebook MULTIPLE TIMES of herself trying on her old cheerleading uniform to show that it still fits. We’re in our late-30s/early-40s.’
—notplacenta
3.
‘When under “College/University” in their Facebook profile, it says, “School of Hard Knocks.”‘
—doctor-rumack
4.
‘Anyone who has a “Salt Life” decal on their car when they live nowhere near the ocean.’
—Static_Discord
5.
‘My ex-stepmother constantly bragged about being a cheerleader in high school and winning a beauty walk (in a town of, like, 500 people). She was still bragging about these the last time I saw her, and she was in her mid-40s.’
—jewelsforfools
6.
‘I had a conversation in a bar with a drinking buddy years ago where he kept going on about “the one that got away.” He said how perfect she was and how great their chemistry was, how he hasn’t felt that way about any girl since, yadda yadda. He was feeling pretty sorry for himself and uninterested in meeting anyone else because they could never compare. When I asked how long ago it was that she moved away, he said, “Eighth grade.” LMFAO!’
—dickbaggery
7.
‘They’re the ones who want to organize high school reunions every five years.’
—Pesto57
8.
‘Anyone who bullies other adults as if they were still in high school.’
—pkeit32
9.
‘When people regularly repost the same picture of their one notable moment they had in high school.’
—MissingDarts
10.
‘Cheer moms. I think being on the squad in high school is fine because it’s an extracurricular, but the whole cliquey cheer mom thing screams high school to me — I’m glad my daughter isn’t interested.’
—TheYankunian
11.
‘Constantly posting ‘throwbacks’ and their senior pictures. That and sharing Facebook memories consistently, or putting Snapchat memories of high school on their story.’
—Head-Investment-8462
12.
‘Talking about your IQ and Advanced Placement classes when you, umm…did nothing afterwards. Like, you’re 48 and you’re still talking about being in Honors English? That was a minute ago, friend.’
—kellygreenbean
13.
‘In my experience, it’s always the people who talk about things that happened in high school as if it was yesterday. I had an ex who would always tell me these wild stories, and when I’d ask when they happened, she’d say, “Sophomore year of high school.” We were mid-20s. Over time, it became clear that high school were the best years of her life.’
—sharkfest473
14.
‘Whenever anyone asks whether or not YOU were popular in high school, THEY clearly peaked in high school.’
—satirevaitneics
15.
‘When they say, “It doesn’t get better once you grow up.”
‘I told a substitute teacher at my school that people told me this all the time, and she said the only people who say that are the ones who peaked in high school. I miss her every day.’
—HoudaRat
Source: r/AskReddit, Image Screenshot