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Does one remember that feeling as the news of one’s reunion first reached them? A mixture of excitement and a little bit of panic—the questions kept appearing: “What will I say?” or “Will anybody remember me?” The phenomenon of having butterflies is common; however, having some memories in mind to share could turn the reunions from a hall full of awkward small talk into one blessed by laughter and genuine bonding.
Planning a reunion, or just getting the most out of it, should be an exciting thought. The key would be to accumulate those precious memories that made your school years so unforgettable. Whether playing on the committee or just wanting to come prepared with all those fun stories that will keep everyone laughing, here are some ways to hit search mode for those golden moments from the past.
Start with Social Media Sleuthing
Let’s keep it real. Facebook has morphed into the unofficial scrapbook of our past lives and perhaps the easiest place to start gathering memories. In case a group for your graduating class doesn’t yet exist, create a private one and watch the magic unfold. People love a good throwback picture, especially when it’s viewed in front of a crowd of old mates.
The net should not be cast just on Facebook. Instagram stories with nostalgic pictures create very good scenarios for conversations, and LinkedIn is also a very good place to reconnect with high school friends who later moved away. Cast the net wide and give easy opportunities for everyone to contribute. If you see someone putting up an excellent memory or picture, do not be afraid to approach the person, asking if she or he would be willing to share a few more for the reunion.
Establish the Memory Collection System
Once the outreach begins, you will need to organize the great flood of memories coming in. Google Drive or Dropbox folders would do just fine. Separate folders for different types of memories: pictures, videos, stories, and maybe even old report cards or programs for school events.
Try having a simple form for your classmates to submit their most cherished memories. A simple Google Form would do: Name, Memory they wish to share, and Photos if any. Make it clear that these memories may be shared at the reunion through a slideshow, memory book, or by way of speaker presentations. In general, people are happy to share when they have the chance to direct their story to the joy of others.
Going to the School Archives
That’s where the real interest lies. Contact the old institutions: many will keep archives of the student newspapers and programs from plays and sporting events, and yes, even old yearbooks. School librarians and administrative assistants are often very helpful and may even allow you to digitize materials on-site.
If the school is tech-friendly, perhaps it may be working with a digital school yearbook system, which is one less thing on your checklist. Some schools have initiated yearbook digitization projects that convert physical yearbooks of yesteryears into searchable digital formats. Such repositories come in handy to cherish many forgotten moments, candid snaps, and even those quotes that appeared profound at seventeen but are now laughable.
Reach Out to Teachers and Staff
Don’t forget about the teachers down at the track who influenced your high school experience. Most educators may keep souvenirs from their years of teaching, and they may share the most heartwarming accounts of students who left an impression. That English teacher who made you fall in love with reading or the coach who instilled in you the spirit of never giving up may have pictures, letters, or anecdotes that would greatly surprise and delight your classmates.
Especially those teachers who have since retired with whom such bonds remain dear and who look forward to reminiscing about “their kids,” who now have grown up and started families of their own. Also, showing up on a teacher’s behalf, however briefly, by someone everybody loved could be the big moment of the program to glisten in an indigent way.
Get Creative with Memory Prompts
Sometimes there are memories that more than one person needs to be nudged to revisit. Instead of just asking “favorite memories,” try giving some very specific examples to trigger memory:
- What was the funniest thing that ever happened in chemistry class?
- What was the most embarrassing thing that happened in the cafeteria?
- What song always brings them back to senior year?
You might be really surprised just how much these specific questions will begin to unlock memories that people had completely forgotten about. Now, let’s say one person remembers getting locked in a classroom after school, while three other memories of people getting locked in classrooms pop into people’s minds, and you suddenly have several pictures to really depict what your school was like.
Involve Others
The best way to collect memories is not to do it by yourself. Find a small group of classmates who are enthusiastic about the reunion. Each person will have a different social circle, and thus it will just reach more of your graduating class.
Different teams should handle different areas: one would take up social media outreach, one would be responsible for contacting teachers and school staff, and another might be tasked with organizing all the materials that are collected. Shared labor lowers the load a bit and makes the whole process a fun gathering experience even before the reunion.
Technology Can Help a Lot
Gathers of memories are infinitely easier with today’s technologies than in previous generations’ planning of their reunions. Google Photos can help you sort and share your images, and similarly, Canva could be used to create gorgeous memory books or slideshow presentations.
Creating a very simple website or blog would give people a place to upload their memories and browse through others’ submissions. They could use WordPress or even a Facebook page as the central resource where classmates might come back from time to time to see if there are any updates to the memory collection.
Turning Memories into Life-Keeping Treasures
Once all these beautiful memories have been gathered together, sit down and ponder on the different ways they can be presented at the reunion. A slideshow during dinner is so cliché now. Perhaps a memory book so that everyone can take one home, photo displays all over the venue, or a simple scrapbook to be browsed during cocktail hour.
The imperfect memories will be the stories eventually told. Cracking photos will crack silly moments, cracked laughs, and cracked memories; they all remind each other why they had loved (or at least survived) high school together.
Conclusion
Collecting memories for your class reunion does not need to be a nerve-wracking affair. With all the social media outreach, school resources, creative prompts, and maybe a good spirit from some enthusiastic classmates, you can form a memory treasury that no doubt will make the reunion an unforgettable one. And usually, the easiest way to go about it is to do it together—when everyone pitches in, the end product becomes something magical that no single person could have achieved.
So set out on that fun memory-gathering journey! All you need is one phone call or one Facebook message or one email sent to an old teacher in age, and you might wonder how those precious memories from high school come rushing back, eager to participate again in creating more joyful moments for reunion bonding.
