For some, graduating from high school makes their life exponentially better. Once they move away from everyone they know and are free to chase their dreams, they would never choose to go back. However, for others, life beyond high school years doesn’t get any better.
Recently, one redditor posed a question wondering which is more common for the cool kids who seemed to have peaked in high school. Did they become successful, rich, and famous, or did they get stuck reminiscing about their younger years? Fortunately, people had a lot to say on the matter, so we curated their top answers for you to check out below.
While you're scrolling through, don't forget to check out a conversation with Reddit user Embarrassed_Menu5704, who started the conversation in the first place and kindly agreed to chat with us more about it.
#1
I haven’t kept in contact with a single person I went to school with and I like it that way.
70points
#2
She’s a librarian.
Was aiming to be a big shot lawyer, it that didn’t pan out. Which was because, along the way, she learned she didn’t *actually* like the profession, just the ‘cool factor’ and deep down cared much more about books and literature.
Good for her, I say.
Was aiming to be a big shot lawyer, it that didn’t pan out. Which was because, along the way, she learned she didn’t *actually* like the profession, just the ‘cool factor’ and deep down cared much more about books and literature.
Good for her, I say.
63points
#3
Dead. Really sucks as the reason he peaked in high school is because not long after he started a family and then got cancer shortly after. He was that super popular star football player that got along with everyone and never bullied anyone and always tried to lift others up. The guy was genuinely one of the best dudes I've ever met.
51points
Reddit user Embarrassed_Menu5704 tells Bored Panda that what led him to start this discussion was his curiosity about whether the people who peaked in high school were able to leverage the strong social skills and networks they usually have.
Unfortunately, not all of them have, and even the Redditor had some stories to share about that. "A lot in my high school got caught in the opioid epidemic and sadly did not reach their potential. Had the [substances] not moved into our neighborhood, I wonder if their lives would have been different."
#4
This post reeks of insecurity. The popular kid who you were always jealous of got cancer three times, divorced four times, and is now living in a crackhouse. Does that make you happy now?
Just let it go. Holding onto a grudge is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die.
Just let it go. Holding onto a grudge is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die.
44points
#5
Having multiple babies by multiple daddies and then marrying a different guy entirely, all while going to church and saying being gay is wrong.
33points
#6
I mean me. I lost my fiance right before COVID, dropped out of college, was a wreck for about 2-3 years. Finally started losing weight again and have a steady job that i like. Nothing fancy but im proud of how far ive come.
Edit: Some people misunderstood what i meant by "lost", she passed away.
Edit: Some people misunderstood what i meant by "lost", she passed away.
29points
Despite this, the Redditor doesn't think that peaking in high school is an entirely bad thing. "I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all. It comes with a lot of traits that can get them far in life."
The Reddit user doesn't believe he peaked in high school but rather continues to slowly improve on himself.
"Just a slow grind up in life. And no, I don’t believe I peaked in HS. I think I’m at my peak now as a 37-year-old male. Based on stats, these are the years when men start to become more stable."
#7
I have no idea since I deleted my Facebook account in the 2010s. The only one I recall is the pretty girl that I had a crush on became a Buddhist running a non-profit that feeds the homeless and poor. She's in her late 40s and still looks like an absolute model. Plus she has that spiritual glow about her, the direct opposite of serial killers with dead eyes. Her eyes are full of life.
29points
#8
A good friend of mine peaked in high school. He wasn't a bad dude, he just peaked, lost his footing after high school. He dropped out of college, went into car sales, didn't do great in that, got fat, married a girl that objectively had very little to offer.... we lost touch... but last I peaked in on his social media, He is remarried, lost a bit of weight, has a kid, "runs" some kind of blue collar business - i think he manages a portion of a chain. He seems happy, im happy for him.
26points
#9
Still riding that peak. Reminds me of my cousin. Still acts the same as she did in highschool. Still drinks the same. She's 40 now 🤣🤣.
22points
#10
A surprising number are stuck in the past, still talking about "glory days" over cheap beer.
21points
#11
He's a warehouse supervisor who still wears his letterman jacket.
18points
#12
Jokes on you. I actually peaked in middle school. Living in my mom's basement is pretty nice.
18points
#13
Now they work at that same high school😂.
18points
#14
Living in a van down by the river.
18points
#15
Trying to recreate highschool, still hanging out with that same ‘popular’ group of friends who all secretly hate each other.
17points
#16
The “Cool” ones ended up losing their hair and getting humbled real quick by how hard the real world doesn’t care about how they peaked as a teenager.
The cool ones that were actually cool are off living their best lives. Upper-middle class in THIS economy, raising wonderful families, and generally being unproblematic and still cool people.
The cool ones that were actually cool are off living their best lives. Upper-middle class in THIS economy, raising wonderful families, and generally being unproblematic and still cool people.
16points
#17
Probably still caring less about you than you do about them.
15points
#18
A lot of the highschool tropes didn't really apply at my school. There was no "cool kids" group or anything like that everyone just had their own clicks based on their activities. The athletes tended to hangout with each other more simply because they spent a lot of time together at practices but the "nerds" (AP class smart kids) were invited to the parties as well and no one really got bullied? Jocks loved the nerds from what I could tell. They helped them with homework and not in a "do it for me way" but more a tutoring way.
So IDK what you would even define as the "cool kids" in that situation. Some nerds burnout and are bums and some of the jocks are doing very well.
So IDK what you would even define as the "cool kids" in that situation. Some nerds burnout and are bums and some of the jocks are doing very well.
14points
#19
He was the star quarterback, he once threw for four touchdown in a single game. He is now married with children and work as a shoes salesman.
12points
#20
My highschool bully is still selling avocados in a cart... sad, really but a part of me feels like he deserves it.
11points