Reflecting on a Decade: The Nostalgia and Change of Returning to High School
Imagine stepping into the classroom of your high school or secondary school after a decade. The feelings that such a return would evoke are both bittersweet and deeply personal. Yet, for many of us, these experiences often remain unfulfilled. While I did not have the opportunity to explore how I would have felt, the prospect of reuniting with classmates and teachers after such a long time would undoubtedly have brought a mix of emotions, perhaps similar to revisiting a family member after a prolonged absence.
A Painful Past and Frequent Absence
For myself, however, the school experience was a profoundly different one. I did not complete my full education and quit before I was strong enough to resist going to school. The years spent in that environment were a total torture and a spiritual blackening. As a result, I never even approached the school premises, even in passing. Reflecting on returning to classrooms where I was once very young often evokes a deep, uncontrolled sadness. It's a bittersweet, nostalgic sadness that reminds me of my most innocent years, where my soul was beginning to be punctured. Over the years, my heart has become harder, making it difficult to feel anything beyond a sense of overwhelming melancholy.
Graduation and the Vividness of Time
I graduated from Sanskriti School in 2011 after completing class 12th. Thirteen years later, I returned as a guest speaker. In those 12 years, nothing changed at the school, yet so much had evolved. Returning to school after a decade brought a sense of joy and reunion with my teachers. In those formative years, Sanskriti School and its teachers played a crucial role in shaping my foundation, making the school responsible for my current trajectory in life.
The Healing Power of Remembering
Recalling these experiences can be incredibly therapeutic. It can help us reminisce and access some of the repressed memories of our high school years, potentially resolving related mental tensions. For individuals who come from small towns, the experience can be even more profound. Even if you still reside in the same town, it can feel like any other day. Yet, when you have been away for many years, it becomes a remarkable and personal experience.
Small Town Living: A Double-Edged Sword
From living in a small town, such as Valetta, VA, to moving to Phoenix, AZ, the contrast can be striking. I graduated from High School in Phoenix but had grown up in the same small town, attending elementary school until my junior year. Despite feeling that I had a strong connection to my town, I was invited to the class reunion in the small town. It was a wonderful experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend that if you are starting a family, consider living in a small town. We knew everyone, and despite the fact that you might know everyone's business, your kids are safe. You don't worry as much about bringing them up in a city, so they may say they hate living in a small town, but they will appreciate it every day of their lives. I moved back to the hills of Tennessee with my family for their safety, and they loved it for the most part.
In conclusion, returning to high school after a decade can be both a journey to the past and a step towards self-discovery. It offers a unique opportunity to reconnect with one's foundation and potentially heal from past wounds. For those from small towns, the dual nature of living there can provide a sense of community and safety for both the parents and their children.