The High Point Academy class of 2002 reunited for the first time in four years on Sunday, May 18. I initially approached the idea of this reunion with reservation. I quite honestly didn’t leave HPA on the best terms possible with several of my classmates. Would four years be long enough to heal old wounds?

Much to my amazement and delight, it was. As I walked into the lunch area, I was greeted with a cavalcade of hugs from my former classmates, some of whom I hardly recognized. Everyone, especially the boys, looked all grown up. I was surprised by how quickly we bonded. In no time at all we were sitting in groups, swapping stories about our future plans, laughing at old yearbooks, and sharing memories about running the hill, Boojum, Madame Dooley, and Ms. Mish.

It’s difficult to pinpoint whether the best part of the evening was the Baja Fresh dinner, the parents sneaking into the lunch area to take pictures of us, or the surprise visits from Mrs. Varnell and Mr. Higgins. The event was definitely a success.

Unfortunately, 7 p.m. eventually rolled around, and we were forced to say our goodbyes and get back to our new lives. The class of 2002 is going to some great colleges, something that doesn’t surprise me at all, and I know I’m not the only one who expects great things from us. Still, I hope that my classmates occasionally will take time from their busy lives to remember all of the good times at HPA. The years we spent there defined our lives and started us down the path to our future.