This is my Thank You note to all of my classmates who made my 25th reunion so special.
Thank you for coming together to create such a wonderful event.I can’t get over the incredible feeling of connecting with old friends, building new connections, and feeling this pervasive sense of love and support. It was like stepping into a time machine, with memories of late-night conversations and impromptu adventures rushing back. It was more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane; it was a celebration of community, lasting friendships, and new connections. Each conversation, hug, and shared laugh reinforced a deep sense of belonging.
Rather than a competition over accomplishments or impressive LinkedIn profiles, it was filled with love and vulnerability. We bonded over how we all came to Yale with our own personal challenges. It wasn’t just the baggage of not being the smartest person in the room anymore but also issues with depression, ADHD, executive function, and sub-par study skills. Instead of competing, we came together to support each other, saying, “You are amazing just the way you are. There’s no need to compete, even with yourself.”
I came into the reunion with one goal: to be in the moment and experience it without judgment. This is hard because these reunions only happen every 5 years and I felt this counterproductive urge to “Make the most of it.” It was especially hard when Blake fell sick the Friday of the event and he and Abigail had to miss it. But embracing a mindset of openness allowed me to fully experience each moment, rather than thinking of what else I could be doing.
Being in the moment allowed me to experience a slew of happy and unexpected surprises throughout the weekend. From hugs from wonderful people I hadn’t seen in 25 years to a Saybrook reunion lunch at Mory’s to figuring out how to get into the locked game room at JE with Ari, the weekend was filled with adventures. The most delightful surprise was our inflatable salon on Old Campus. We were taking a break from the dance party when one of my friends shouted, “Let’s get the inflatable furniture!”1 Soon, we had a wonderful inflatable salon for friends to visit and make new memories.
I’m sorry to all the people I didn’t connect with or didn’t connect with for long enough. This was a testament to the abundance of love and energy at the reunion. There was so much going on, it was impossible to see everyone. I remember one time when a long-lost friend greeted me with a huge hello. I was so overcome with emotion that I couldn’t respond before they were off talking to someone else.
By the end of the weekend, I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t remember all the incredible moments I had. I’ve never had this kind of experience before—so many amazing things happening that I couldn’t take them all in.
So thank you all for such a wonderful weekend and I look forward to seeing you again soon!
- They’d brought some inflatable furniture for their room, thinking that all of the student furniture had been moved out after graduation. ↩︎
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