class of 1996 🧑🎓
Posted by Alternative-Unit-738@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 141 comments
how does it feel to realize that graduation (high school/college) was 30 years ago?! 😳 were you graduating from high school or college around this time back then? do you happen to remember the song that was playing at the end of your graduation ceremony? how did you celebrate?
for me it was high school graduation in May 1996 and i remember hearing "tha crossroads" playing in the background 🥹 my oldest was born 9 months after graduation... she turned 29 earlier this year. time sure does fly, doesn't it?
FAx32@reddit
9 months after graduation you say ... so how did YOU celebrate?
Strong_Medium_6646@reddit
I graduated in ‘83, I was 31 in ‘96, lol. We are obviously on opposite ends of our generation.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
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Caliopebookworm@reddit
I finished my BAs in 1995 and was in grad school in 1996.
Tommy_Vercetti-4406@reddit
Class of 96 here, reporting in.
When I graduated I was looking forward to future reunions, and I went to my 10 year reunion. However, FB and other socials killed the need to "see people and catch up". It's not like it was for our parents at all. I still keep in touch with about three people from high school. And while high school was enjoyable overall, these days it serves as a point of measure when I'm trying to related to my own children. I use it to remember what I was like at their ages. And wholly I am glad they are not into the stuff I was.
moopet@reddit
Class of 96 here too, though I took an extra year out before I got there. Didn't occur to me that it's been 30 years. I still have my sweatshirt with all the other graduates' names on it in my wardrobe, though.
Never went to a reunion. Never kept in contact with anyone who went to a reunion either.
golfingsince83@reddit
Class of ‘97 here. Never been to a reunion and don’t plan on going to one . I’ve long lost contact with anyone from high school
fknkl@reddit
Class of’91. Left after graduation and never looked back.
Ok_Difference_3037@reddit
It feels impossible that I graduated hs 30 years ago. I’m grateful to have kept a handful of relationships from childhood still to this day and don’t feel a need to go to the reunion. It’s amazing how 18 is the age I feel inside and my sense of humor, but then I look in the mirror and wonder who the f that person is lol. And when it’s time to find an adult in any given situation and it ends up being me- I’m all, damnit.
stueynz@reddit
Young whippersnapper … class of ‘84 here
intrntvato@reddit
Graduated high school on 96. I've never attended nor do I ever plan on attending the reunions. I married my HS girlfriend and still occasionally speak to my best friend that I grew up down the street from.
I hated highschool but don't wish any ill will towards my former classmates. I've just moved on and don't care to rememise about it.
Knight_thrasher@reddit
I hated school, I missed graduating by 1 class and I was fed up with it all. I didn’t do any of that stuff. Sometimes I regret it but then I remember why I didn’t participate in school stuff and that feeling goes away.
SaebraK@reddit
Candlebox played the Blue Note that night. Went straight from graduation to the concert.
FL3TCHL1V3S@reddit
MIZ!
Guilty-Reindeer6693@reddit
Went to 10 year and had a surprising amount of fun- sat at a table where the only connection between all people (from the graduating class) was a sport we played together. We'd all gone away for college and grew up. There were definitely the homers who started in town/went to college locally and retained their clique-y high school mindset. There was no 20 year and any talk of a 30 year for this year has been too grandiose (travel, multi day, etc.) to get much interest. I might be interested in going, but I'm not spending vacation days to do it.
face-puncher@reddit
My 30 year reunion is in a couple of weeks. I have no intention of going. However…
I did find out that one of my classmates was recently released from prison from curb stomping his wife and allegedly causing her to miscarry, and he happened to post in the reunion group on FB about how he was looking forward to seeing everyone. Now I kinda want to go so I can ask him what he’s been up to for the last “1.5 to 3 years” (his prison sentence).
automator3000@reddit
It wilds me out to imagine having a kid any time near high school years. I was class of ‘96 too … but my kid just turned one year old not 29 years old. (Though I imagine that to you, having a first kid in your late 40s seems insane.)
Don’t remember much at all about graduation. I showed up and walked. I had a grad party in my backyard where I told all my aunts and uncles and family friends what my plans were. I then spent the summer working and getting silly drunk on Busch Light and smoking too many Camels while watching bad movies before getting a few thousand miles away for college that fall.
Mugwumps_has_spoken@reddit
yes, having a kid in your late 40s is crazy. Late 20s is more normal.
Rpc_78@reddit
I have not attended any class reunions. The friends I had in high school remained my friends. I had no need to reconnect with people that didn’t mean anything to me.
We had a family gathering the night of graduation (a Wednesday), and then my part-time job turned full-time the next day.
eric44051@reddit
HS in the 90s? I thought this was a GenX group. lol
RevToy@reddit
Late Gen X was in high school in the 90s.
MapPuzzleheaded4983@reddit
My niece graduated today!! I am c/o 94 and her mother-my sister-is class of 95.
OldLifeguard-00@reddit
Class of 1994 as well!
about 2 weeks after graduation was the infamous OJ pursuit on CNN.
I remember starting college in the fall of 1994 and getting a real email address to only get frustrated that it was all text based. I remember also surfing the WWW in total text. Oh god did that SUCK.
MapPuzzleheaded4983@reddit
same. My college email was my first one.
jmakioka@reddit
I didn’t even bother walking. I moved in 10th grade and never really felt connected to anyone at my new high school, and the high school kept trying to get me to change schools. Once out of high school I found what was my group of friends for a few years and I kind of messed around until finally enrolling in college late 99.
I still talk with my best friend from back then. I saw people I went to high school with in the first few years after high school, but as far as I know, I don’t see anyone anymore.
OldLifeguard-00@reddit
I moved into a new HS at the end of 10th and finished at a school where … yeah, didn’t really know anyone.
Oddly enough I did make 1-2 friends at that school and I ran into one of them at a conference about 10 years ago. That was a wild experience- hadn’t talked to this person since HS.
Ok-Lingonberry-8261@reddit
I went to the ten year reunion, remembered I hated all of them except the few people I already kept in touch with, and never thought about them again. Sure not going to the 30 year.
PrecisePMNY@reddit
1996 high school graduate. Those were the days...
been_jammmin@reddit
I heard this in Natalie Merchant’s voice. 💛 Because …96
PrecisePMNY@reddit
Kind and Generous is the song I danced with my father to when I got married. Such a beautiful voice and message.
ECNV1978@reddit
They really were. Class of 96 here, too.
chasingjulian@reddit
My 30 year reunion is in a couple of months. Not sure if I am going or not.
rrrrrrez@reddit
Ok-Entertainment5045@reddit
Mine is too. Haven’t gone to one yet, probably won’t start now.
dewihafta@reddit
I have no clue is my school is even having one! I emailed the alumni group and no one answered me.
onemorebutfaster_74@reddit
Didn’t think of that til now. College ‘96.
Comedywriter1@reddit
Same. I skipped our graduation ceremony to go travelling, but still think very fondly of the experience/the people.
WideCoconut2230@reddit
HS is just a big blur to me now. More interested in dividend paying stocks and mutual funds for retirement.
Odd_Policy_3009@reddit
Same.
HS wasn’t a hell hole for me but I’ve kept in touch with who I wanted to via Facebook.
I never went to prom and I survived lol
But HS is so far in my rear view mirror!
WideCoconut2230@reddit
I hear you. Didn't go to prom either. Didn't care about reunions. I still have one friend from college and we do things once or twice a year. Just moved on with life.
SheriffBartholomew@reddit
Don't know. Didn't graduate.
SemperFudge123@reddit
I don't think we had music playing at our graduation ceremony in '96 but do remember that Smashing Pumpkins 1979 was our class song (even though we were all born in 1977 and '78).
I spent that June and July hitting up a lot of graduation parties. I feel like we were going to 5 or 6 every weekend.
30 years later and I still keep in very regular touch with quite a few of my friends from the class of '96. No idea if we'll have a reunion but I did go to our 10th and 20th and had a good time at those and would likely go to our 30th if I'm around that weekend.
onions-make-me-cry@reddit
My 30 year is next year so yeah I don't care, I don't go to reunions.
My life is now growing old with the absolute love of a lifetime, and I'm good with that.
timsfsn@reddit
Almost at 40 years. Class of 87. 😭
Fair-Wishbone-1190@reddit
May 23 1990, which I just realized was exactly 36 years today! I don't knowuch about our songs but I remember going out that night to a party and got super drunk. Good times.
SignificantTransient@reddit
I don't think there was music at mine. I do know the entire class yelled a nickname at me when I went up and I was completely dumbfounded, as while I had definitely earned it, I had never heard it before.
retro_lady@reddit
1996 for me too. I only realized a few months ago that was 30 years ago.
ECNV1978@reddit
It was TODAY that I realized it. Seriously, how has it been THAT LONG?!!!
retro_lady@reddit
I hope the next 30 goes slower. Yikes.
ECNV1978@reddit
Seriously!
Icky-Tree-Branch@reddit
I was class of 96. We graduated in the first week of June. I was so happy to go to FSU and get the Hell out of my small town.
Ceorl_Lounge@reddit
Still in daily contact with my college friends who I said farewell to 30 years ago. Lived with them after for a minute, game with them routinely to this day. See them less than I would like, but deeply grateful to have them. Here's to friends!
LAARPer@reddit
Class of 93! A little bit further back. I remember our class of 96 as freshmen. We resonated really well with them, actually.
My brother started HS in the fall of 96.
My ex wife was class of 95 and my son was born in 97. I feel that the class of 96 was the last class I considered to be in my same generation/era.
Anxiouslycalm12@reddit
6/24/96 was my ceremony. I was so done with HS, college was alot easier, but I got nowhere and ended up in the navy. I havent spoken to 1 person from HS, not 1.
Andurilmage@reddit
Class of 93...weird how time flies
cleg74@reddit
I graduated college in ‘96 but I am too busy with sending my own kids to college and helping my aging Dad figure out his move into assisted living to worry about what was or was not 30 years ago.
CTurtleLvr@reddit
Same here, on all accounts. Good luck to you!
Sloth_grl@reddit
I am class of 1985.
Patient_Character730@reddit
I graduated high school in 1996. I don't know what song they played because I did not attend my graduation. My home life sucked, my parents were checked out and my mom was an alcoholic. I went to mu best friend's grad party after the ceremony.
My life has been very good to me after high school, you couldn't pay me to go back, this includes the high school reunions.
Mephisto40K@reddit
41 years is a tad weirder
Comfortable-Sky-9569@reddit
On June 9 1996 it'll be 30 years graduating high school
ECNV1978@reddit
OMG I DID NOT EVEN REALIZE it had been 30 years since I’d graduated from high school. Ugggggggg. 🤬👵🏻👎🏼
Chemical-Finish-7229@reddit
Same!!
kat_storm13@reddit
1990 from high school. That I graduated 36 years ago has no effect on me. That the first time I saw Nine Inch Nails was 36 years ago?!? 🙀🙀🙀
knudude@reddit
Lucky dog! My parents would have killed me if I went to their shows then!
HeightLatter6800@reddit
30 years ago I graduated HS and in two weeks my daughter will do the same. Wild.
KieferMcNaughty@reddit
https://youtu.be/6f520VPYvWE?si=tv5Xlnmnqz5lqSDD
ripper4444@reddit
96’ HS grad and every day of my adult life has been better than any moment I spent in that school. I don’t remember a specific song but I do know as soon as it was over I walked out got in my car and left. No pictures no goodbyes. College on the other hand was an absolute blast.
treeseinphilly@reddit
Temple University, class of “96 with Bill Cosby as our commencement speaker. I did not see his downfall coming, that’s for sure.
MaximumJones@reddit
Did everyone get his free commemorative play set?
sexyonpaper@reddit
Going to my reunion in 2 weeks. Wild
Odd_Policy_3009@reddit
86 here. I think our class had 400ish graduates.
And we never had a “graduation song”.
_Brandobaris_@reddit
86 as well. No song and just over 300 fellow grads.
AssistantNo5668@reddit
I graduated in 96 and the end of the road by boyz 2 men was what i remember walking to
JoleneDollyParton@reddit
We cruised around listening to the Fugees on the last day of school. Feels like yesterday.
tooslow_moveover@reddit
It was 30 years ago…9 years ago Thanks for the reminder!
cheesusismygod@reddit
Hated high school, glad it was over. Don't remember much if it at all, except I made it.
RandomCoffeeThoughts@reddit
College grad in 96. I was just messaging with my college roommates how crazy it's been 30 years and that we have messaged daily since graduation.
CawlinAlcarz@reddit
30 year HS graduation anniversary felt crazy back in 2018, just as my 30 year college grad anniversary in 2022 felt crazy.
DirkDaring93@reddit
HS sweetheart dumped me right after graduation 30 years ago. As an old man looking back, it was the right thing to do. We had been dating ALL through high school and really needed to experience life. But, man did it destroy me. Horrible year in general because of that event. Didn’t get by mojo back til 97.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
Wow by 96 I had been in and out of the army in and out of school, moved across the country 3 times bought a house and was married for over 6 years.
Business_Swan8209@reddit
There's a big difference between early Gen X and later Gen X. I graduated high school in '86, from college in 90. I had my kid in 96!
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
My brother was 6 years younger and a world of difference. They’re a lot pissier as well.
fundy3000@reddit
High school 96. They had a reunion a couple weeks ago. It looked pretty dull to be honest. I’ve kept up with many high school friends, didn’t see a need to go.
I don’t remember our class song. I do remember we voted for Today -smashing pumpkins, but the school rejected it because it was about suicide. Whatever the stand in was wasn’t memorable.
Doesn’t bother me it’s been thirty years. Too many people didn’t make it. It’s kind of an honor to still be here.
fallcreekprepper@reddit
My wife graduated in '96. I graduated in '92
realityguy1@reddit
Graduated in 96??? I was married in 88. Had kids and a mortgage by 96.
FionaTheFierce@reddit
I graduated almost 10 years earlier. My 40th is next year! I am an older Gen X.
marrklarr@reddit
Oldest born 9 months later? Guess we know what you were up to graduation night.
StopHamelTime@reddit
I graduated college in 96. Don’t remember a graduation song…
Tasty-Law-4527@reddit
Plz honey I'm 1985 add another 11yrs😂
Odd_Policy_3009@reddit
86 here. My FORTIETH this year.
katiekat214@reddit
Same. They’re planning the reunion now.
teatabletea@reddit
Yup.
friendly_ferns@reddit
97 grad. Remember prom mom? Ya it was a thing. My class
Auferstehen78@reddit
96 highschool graduate.
I don't want to believe it was 30 years ago.
ECNV1978@reddit
THANK YOU! Me either. No friggen way. I’m still mentally/emotionally like 25.
Detroitdays@reddit
Had my 30th four years ago.
drum_nerd@reddit
I graduated in 94, by 96 I was a year and a half into college courses. I never flew out to attend reunions tho (graduated in the midwest, went to college in Los Angeles)
Loki12626@reddit
‘85…,my daughter is about to turn 39😱
teatabletea@reddit
Me too, except my kid’s younger.
tmp1966@reddit
AurorasCastle630@reddit
During my HS graduation in '96 we (the members of the school singing club) sang that song, "Remember me this Way" by Jordan Hill. It was pretty big back then from that Casper movie. 😞
If you lose your way
Think back on yesterday
Remember me this way
93195@reddit
I wish it was only 30 years ago. Class of 1996 (born in 1978 or 79) are amongst the youngest of Xers.
TraductorPerdido@reddit
Hey, some of us were born in '77 and were held back from school for a year because our parents thought we'd feel weird about being the youngest people in our class – not that we necessarily ended up having anything more in common with the classmates we ended up having anyway. . . .
Mountain_Exchange768@reddit
Class of ‘88! (Had I not dropped out my sophomore year and gone for a GED in ‘87)
doveinabottle@reddit
1996 college graduate here.
DaSloBlade@reddit
College for me....hadnt even registered that 30 years ago.
PurposeConsistent131@reddit
My 30 year got cancelled because of Covid(class of 90) that was the ONE reunion I was considering going to🤷🏼♀️
FlyAdministrative886@reddit
83 …. Whatever.
CuratrixJC@reddit
Same!
iMom561@reddit
I graduated May 19, 1996. My daughter. May 19th, 2026! I didn't even think about it until this post. 30 years! Crazy!!
TraductorPerdido@reddit
My last day of school before graduation was 30 years ago tomorrow, and I thought about driving past my old high school on the way back from visiting my parents' house tomorrow night. But by then the building won't be visible from behind the street lights that are past the entrance drive, and the only thing that will be is the LED board that some years ago replaced the lighted marquee sign from my time there.
I'd probably have more memories floating back by driving past the strip malls down the street.
MusicalMerlin1973@reddit
Almost there for college. One more year. My best friend in college’s son was born the week after graduation. I just had the oh crap he’s going to be 30 next year realization with my wife.
VinnieCollectsLPs@reddit
‘96. My parents recently sent me unsolicited details of a 30th anniversary reunion gathering that I won’t attend with people I barely remember.
My graduating class was roughly 150 persons.
KelsoReaping@reddit
96 here, looking good for my 30 year. Was two weeks lost partum at 20 so I had a good reason to be out of shape :P
AshDenver@reddit
I got married in 1994. I need to excuse myself. I need a moment.
yeahwellokay@reddit
I was glad to be out of there and never looked back.
Specific-Diver-4108@reddit
Class of 1998 😩 Seems like only months ago 😩
ogpharmtech@reddit
Came to say. I'll let you know in 2 yrs but 28 yrs probably doesn't feel much better, if not worse.
Seems like 5 yrs ago sometimes and 20 lifetimes at other times.
Seeing my classmates become grandparents is a gut punch I'll never forgive their children for.
I'd like to go back to 98 but not to high school b/c fuck that.
Hot_Assistant_6067@reddit
My mom graduated in 1997 🥳
bklynking1999@reddit
Class of 96 … high school. Crazy. Didn’t even put that together until you said it
Opposite-Mushroom940@reddit
Class of 96. Poor parents, went to Pizza Hut to celebrate. No party.
ajcpullcom@reddit
I graduated from a public high school in 1991. The ceremony lined up everyone to receive their diplomas in pairs -- alphabetically by the boys’ last names, and every girl had to ask a boy to walk with. There were five more girls in the class than boys, and they walked at the end of the line.
Not one student, parent, or teacher questioned it.
2ndChanceAtLife@reddit
Class of 87. Best friend dropped out of high school so I felt super alone. Older bf took me to a graduation party.
Square-Wing-6273@reddit
Howdy 87 twin!
AppropriateAmoeba406@reddit
My reunion is coming up. We old.
Boring_Menu_5962@reddit
s1l1c0n3@reddit
Same as it did three years ago for me as a ‘93
Still don’t give a fuck about the majority of those fuckers
MAdcock6669@reddit
'96 here. I was only at my graduation because it was required by my parents. I would have been ok with getting my diploma in the mail. Spent a few years figuring myself out. Then went to trade school for HVAC. Been with the same company for 28 years and running it for going on 6 years now.
Overall_Lobster823@reddit
'83.
Actual_Contract8644@reddit
‘89 for me !!
Panem-et-circenses25@reddit
Class of 92. Military, undergrad, grad school, job. I’m old
Mediocre-Proposal686@reddit
‘89 here
Secret_Computer4891@reddit
'95 here. In this specific order, I dropped out, ran away, got married, started college, got my GED, and then raised kids while having a solid career.
I didn't have a graduation, so I don't have those memories to look back on. The past 30 years were a blur of hard work and happy memories.
hippiechick725@reddit
Class of 88. Whatever, man.
notaboomer22@reddit
Better than realizing it was 41 years ago!
HerNameIsVesper@reddit
Class of 96? As someone from class of 85, I feel ok saying y'all are still youngsters.
slade797@reddit
Class of 1985 FTW
MissMac79@reddit
Fellow class of 96’er. In some regards it feels like it was just a few years ago and in others it feels like a lifetime ago. Blessed to still have friends from school and have made a whole lot of others on the way.
Celtic159@reddit
Well I'm '86, sooooooo......