Confessions of a Reunion Organizer
Rob Hirscheimer is the co-founder of MyEvent.com. He has been helping people plan reunions since 2002 on his easy-to-use platform.
He recently helped plan his 40th high school reunion and shared some great insights into what worked and what didn’t along with other thoughts about why reunions still make sense in this age of technology.
“The reunion was so great for catching up with everyone. We really didn’t need to try so hard with activities, like Karaoke. People just wanted to talk to each other. One thing we screwed up was the timing. We called it for 8PM and told people there would be lots to nibble on. Most people arrived later than 8 having eaten already, so most of the food was wasted. We should have made it earlier and let everyone know to come for dinner or had a lot less food, if it was really just drinks and snacks! The venue we chose was very original and people liked that. It was in a music studio that was underground. The cool atmosphere really helped the vibe. The background music was great but it was important to keep the music low so we could hear each other. It felt like the right amount of time had passed since our last reunion 15 years ago and people were very excited to reconnect and share memories. Check out our reunion website myevent.com/bialik85.”
Sometimes people wonder why high school reunions still matter in the digital age. In an era where we can scroll through old classmates’ lives with a few taps on Instagram or reconnect through LinkedIn in seconds, the idea of a high school reunion might feel outdated. After all, if the internet already keeps us in touch, why dress up, book a flight, and walk into a gym full of people you haven’t seen in years? Because what we get from in-person connection cannot be replicated online.
1. Real presence beats digital perfection
Social media gives us a highlight reel. Reunions give us reality. In person, you’re not seeing filtered photos — you’re sharing laughs, body language, and genuine warmth. Old friends look you in the eye, not through a screen. Conversations flow naturally, stories wander and you remember not just who people were, but learn who they’ve become. Face-to-face moments remind us that everyone has lived a full life — messy, beautiful, unexpected — and that’s something no online profile can capture.
2. Shared history builds instant belonging
High school is one of the few experiences most people share at the same age and in the same place. It’s a formative chapter that shaped who we are. When you reunite with classmates, you reconnect with a community that remembers you before career titles, before family responsibilities, before adulthood. That familiarity creates a rare kind of belonging — a chance to revisit where your story began and reflect on how far you’ve come.
3. Digital “connection” isn’t emotional connection
Technology lets us communicate, but it doesn’t always let us connect. Scrolling through updates doesn’t replace laughing about an old inside joke or revisiting the place where your friendships were born. Reunions reignite the emotional connections that shaped your younger self. They remind you that friendship is built
not just on messages, but on shared memories and genuine presence.
4. Reunions rekindle perspective
Life moves fast. A reunion is a rare pause — a moment to measure growth, not by comparison, but by reflection. You see how everyone’s path unfolded differently and it becomes easier to appreciate your own. The quarterback may be a teacher now; the quiet classmate might be running a company. Seeing those
transformations up close inspires gratitude, humility, and often a renewed sense of purpose.
5. They strengthen real-world communities
Finally, in-person gatherings remind us that community isn’t just digital — it’s physical. Reunions spark local pride, support school initiatives, and sometimes even rekindle long-lost friendships or collaborations. They rebuild social fabric that our increasingly virtual world can easily fray.
The Bottom Line
Yes, we live online — but we live for connection. High school reunions are one of the few traditions that pull us away from screens and back into real, human moments. They remind us that while technology can keep us updated, only time together can make us feel truly connected. In the end, a “like” can’t replace a hug.
Originally published in Reunions Magazine, reunionsmag.com, Winter 2025