13 Tips for Being the Envy of EVERYONE at Your High School Reunion

Between the Laguna Beach crew's recent 10-year reunion and the classic Romy and Michele's High School Reunion coming later this month to Netflix, it's understandable if you've got reunions on your mind. And depending on what your teen years were like and where you are now, the thought of your own upcoming reunion might leave you with mixed feelings. Whether you're looking forward to humble-bragging about your awesome post-grad life or dreading running into your old arch nemesis, we've got a few pointers for nailing the night. 

1. Reach Out Ahead of Time
Do yourself a favor and skip some awkwardness by hitting up old friends on social media before the reunion, says Irene S. Levine, Ph.D., a psychologist and friendship expert. No need to go on a Facebook friending spree of your entire graduating class, but a quick hello to the old BFFs you're excited to see will help you gauge what to expect and line up potential allies for when you arrive.

2. Journal About What You're Grateful For—Yes, Really
Talking about yourself at a high school reunion is inevitable. Lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann suggests figuring out ahead of time how you want to tell the story of who you are and what you've done. Easier said than done, right? If you have a hard time coming up with accomplishments you're proud of, Nick Papadopoulos, life coach for Meredith Haberfeld Coaching, says to journal about the things in your life you're grateful for in the days or weeks leading up to the reunion. "It's a way of getting connected to what's working in your life," he says. "Highlight things you're proud of and what the impact was." Focus on how you've impacted your loved ones and the world around you, even if you haven't knocked all your goals off your to-do list yet.