I feel like every school has its loners — the people who keep to themselves and are considered a bit odd, though usually mean no harm. Back then, these folks may seemingly drop off the face of the Earth after graduation. Now, social media makes it a lot easier to check on your former classmates and see how they've come out of their shell since school.
So, I want to know: What happened to the 'loner' or 'outcasts' of your school?
I'll go first! Maybe you had a similar story like me: I moved to a new school district in the eighth grade and spoke so little that there was a rumor I was a witch. I was actually just paranoid people would figure out I was gay if I talked and bully me. Today, I live a proud and out lifestyle in a very gay city (Los Angeles), am pursuing my childhood passion of acting, and even get to write for one of my favorite sites as my day job.
Did you look up the one girl who sat in the back of the classroom with her favorite Jack Skellington hoodie and learn that she's now one of the highest paid Twitch streamers? You never saw her at parties back in school, but now, she's a VIP at parties you can't even get into. And you're happy for her!
Maybe the "weird art kid" that people didn't take the time to know (though you were friendly with whenever you worked together in class) finally found their audience and is the creator of one of the most popular NFTs. You even saw them on the cover of a magazine on your way to your job.
Perhaps the guy who never talked to anyone and would "Naruto run" from class to class is now a fitness influencer. His partner is even hotter than he is now, though you're mostly jealous of his non-receding hairline.
Or maybe you still to keep to yourself, just like you did at 17 years old. The only difference now is that you don't beat yourself up about it anymore — you have a life that fulfills you, a pet who understands you, and your close friend who always checks up on you. As far as you're concerned, you were never the loner. You were just figuring yourself out.
