CuriositiesAPR 2, 2024

33 Cringy Things That Scream Someone Peaked In High School

It’s an interesting paradox that we often spend the majority of our younger years yearning for the freedom that comes with adulthood, but when we finally reach it, we start reminiscing about the lack of responsibilities and the good times we had in school.

It even happens that some people get too caught up in this web of memories and find it hard to move on to a brighter future. Seeing this way too much, one redditor turned to the AskReddit community with the question, “What screams 'this person peaked in high school' to you?”

From bragging about SAT scores ten years later to getting into fistfights at bars, scroll down to find the most awkward telltale signs that indicate a person has reached their maximum potential in their final years of education.

#1

33 Cringy Things That Scream Someone Peaked In High School

I had a teacher in high school who was always reminiscing about her days in high school and warning us that high school is the best time of our lives.

I'm a teacher now and I tell my students the opposite. You won't need to see these people ever again, who you are now is not who you will be in the future, etc. Things can get better!

Fun-Tradition-327, Taylor Flowe

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137points

#2

I coulda went pro if I didn't blow out my knee in the playoffs senior year!

We know Mike, you never shut up about it

theawkwardambassador, Riley McCullough

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78points

#3

They’ll scream at their kids at their sports games as if its a world championship lol

Pglynn123, Jeffrey F Lin

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75points

One common indicator that a person "peaked in high school" is if they rely on their past accomplishments to define their current value. Sure, it's great to be proud of one's achievements, but it's equally important to continue growing and setting new goals. If you feel like you haven't succeeded at something for a while and only tend to reminisce about the good old days, it might be a sign that you need to take on a new challenge.

Another indication is if the person is struggling to adjust to adult responsibilities. High school conveniently provides students with a structured environment and clear expectations and duties, which makes it trickier for some to transition into adulthood, where you have to take matters into your own hands. After leaving such an environment, individuals might feel overwhelmed or unsure of how to navigate the challenges of adulthood.

This can further lead to people struggling to find their own identity and purpose. Since high school provides a clear path for many of them, it can be hard to discover passions on their own without it.

#4

Telling teenagers that “These are the best years of your life, it’s all downhill from here.”

Dotard1, Steven Abraham

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73points

#5

I had a conversation in a bar with a drinking buddy years ago. The guy kept going on about "the one that got away." How perfect she was and their chemistry together, how natural it 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 "8th grade." LMFAO

weeklybuzzard, Janosch Diggelmann

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67points

#6

They call themselves alpha males

DarkestMoose538, Hunters Race

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64points

However, it's not all downhill from there, as it's never too late to continue growing and find new successes in different areas of life. In fact, one study has found that people who performed well during their high school years tend to display better cognitive functions even 60 years later.

#7

Going back to the high school for any and every event

1234Dillon, Erika Giraud

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62points

#8

My dad regularly watches video tapes of his high school basketball games. So probably that.

sodapoptootsieroll, Kenny Eliason

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60points

#9

My ex-husband is a prime example. He was a football, track, baseball, choir, and drama star. He was super popular and people fell at his feet.

Now he's 50, balding, overweight, and a cocky know it all. He still has the "football star" big d**k energy but now its just sad. He's old, frumpy, and he brags about high school and is an a*****e to everyone.

He likes to bully and control me and our kids. He told me during Covid lockdown that he was immune to all sickness and doctors should study him because he's a perfect specimen.

Interupting_Cows, Nicola Barts

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59points

The reason our brains are so attached to our high school years might be because "instruction provided by more experienced and knowledgeable teachers might be more intellectually stimulating and provide additional neural or cognitive benefits," says Dominika Šeblová, a research scientist at Columbia University.

#10

Getting in fist-fights as an adult. Especially at a bar when you're drunk.

Dadpurple, SHVETS production

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58points

#11

Mean girl energy over the age of 22-23.

It gives either you peaked in high school or you were bullied in high school and continued the cycle because you want to know what it feels like.

Dangerous-Ocelot948, Element5 Digital

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53points

#12

All their stories, all their accomplishments, all their succeses they mention were during high school.

kgbjay, Feliphe Schiarolli

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48points

#13

My dad's oldest friend spent his entire adult life talking about his high-school days -- dad says he was a very good-looking and popular guy at the time. We'll call him Tom.

Tom made good early life and was a very successful salesman until he had a heart attack at age 33 which pretty much ended his professional career.

From there, Tom worked a variety of odd jobs because he just couldn't get his act together. He became overweight and lost most of his hair and looked nothing like his younger self. Eventually, Tom found himself living out of his van and having to constantly borrow money from his mother and friends to survive.

When they had their 25th graduating class reunion, my dad said Tom was the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Tom, who was a regular fixture at our home in the 1980s, spent the next two months talking to my parents about how much fun he had at that reunion and how much enjoyed seeing everyone again and how he wished it could have lasted forever.

Sadly, Tom passed away a few years later at 47 from another heart attack. He was a nice enough guy, and I am really glad he enjoyed that reunion.

Fresh-Hedgehog1895, Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

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43points

#14

Still bragging about your SAT score 10+ years later.

WhiskeyThinker, Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu

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42points

#15

In my 60's and just moved to a different town. Got into a group of bicycle riders. All these guys can talk about is their high school antics. Who dated who. Who skipped the most classes. How great they were at sports. Yada-yada-yada. I left hs and did six years in the navy. Then went to college on the GI bill. Had way more fun and excitement than hs. I stopped riding with those guys.

Mickeydawg04, Alvin Balemesa

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40points

#16

They scored four touchdowns in one game playing fullback for Polk High, setting a school record.

ermghoti, Muyuan Ma

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39points

#17

They post their entire life on social media. Everytime little Jenny opens their eyes, or little Johnny brings home a new art piece from school. Every single date night, OOTD, and selfie all put on social media.

skinnyl0vexx

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35points

#18

When they keep trying to organize high school reunions more than a decade after graduation, even though no one ever responds to them

ostsillyator, Jonas Leupe

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34points

#19

Being in an MLM

Aggravating-Fee-1615, LinkedIn Sales Solutions

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32points

#20

You know someone peaked in high school when they're more concerned with maintaining their status as the 'cool kid' than actually pursuing meaningful goals and aspirations in their adult life.

Elegant-Head-813, Jan Ranft

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30points