While I was apprehensive before our 50th Reunion Dinner, I realised it was all for nought after the party. Everyone was so happy to meet one another that after the warm bear hug, all that mattered was the conversation.

What emerged from the conversation really changed my perspective about the people I knew in school. Unarguably, at 16, we are all at our most self-obsessed best. We worry about not being too smart or are conscious of being too smart. Similarly, we have self-image issues, especially the boys whose voices suddenly crack overnight or develop a fuzz that can’t be buzzed. And girls of course whose hair is too long or too frizzy or who are too fat or too thin and of course that pimple that everyone wants to pop.

To add to the agony of teenage angst, our school-leaving year was fraught with the fear of not doing well in the school-leaving exams. Our entire lives and livelihoods depended on the marks we got. A low mark would mean admission to a middling college, followed by an average degree and an average job. Naturally, no one wants to live the life of the average Joe. We all had dreams of flying high and reaching for the stars.

Even though some of us had met for our 25th year reunion, this reunion put many of my misconceptions to rest. For instance, no one was really an average Joe nor was anyone spectacularly outstanding. Every one of us had done reasonably well and most importantly happily sailed into retirement fairly pleased with what they had achieved.

Very few of the toppers stayed at the top and very few of the back benchers stayed at the back! There were a few surprises but by and large things weren’t too surprising.

Many people who hadn’t spoken more than two words to me in school spent a good 10-15 minutes exchanging life stories. And of course, there were those who had never spoken to me at school who still didn’t bother to glance my way .

Somethings never change at all do they ?