'They went to college and found out they were just average': People divulge what happened to the most popular kids at their high school

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Jun 30, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

If you weren't popular in school, your parents probably said this to you: "When you grow up, you'll be interesting and successful, and the kids who were popular will be trying to relive their glory days of high school football championships and cheerleading." While that's a comforting idea (which is heavily supported by the Sandy Frink character in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion), it's not always true. A lot of popular kids grow up to be attractive and successful adults, and the idea that they all "peaked in high school" is nothing more than a cope. Knowing what's going on in the lives of your high school classmates is already a little bit embarrassing, so it's much more fun to learn about the exploits of anonymous popular kids grown up. The citizens of Reddit came together to share what the most popular kids at their high schools are doing now, and there are a lot more success stories than you might think. 

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    Rawkin deb Riddell Riddell 17
    via Alexander Schimmeck
  • 02
    What happened to the good-looking ultra- popular kids that had it all in high school?
    via u/Agitated-Quit-6148
  • 03
    Rson W 11 hr. ago . edited 11 hr. ago The most popular girl in my graduating class (and I do mean most popular; she made an effort to make friends with literally everyone), head cheerleader, is now the head director at the local homeless shelter. She never married, has no kids, 37. Still an absolute babe.
    via u/RsonW
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    StarryMimosa 7 hr. ago Seems like she really deserved the popularity. What a great woman.
    via u/StarryMimosa
  • 05
    CMsirP - 3 hr. ago Sounds like she'll be starring in a Hallmark Christmas movie soon!
    via u/CMsirP
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    alegna12 - 16 hr. ago Prom king and queen got married shortly after high school. Forty years later, they live within 5 miles of the farms where they grew up. They made some athletic, attractive kids along the way.
    via u/alegna12
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    Sometimes_Stutters 4 hr. ago edited 4 hr. ago And you know what? That's a successful life. You don't need to live in Barcelona for 2 years after college and work in start up to be "successful". Coming from a very very small town these types of people are absolutely critical for the town to remain healthy. They have good kids. They're involved in the community. They have important or relevant jobs in the community.
    via u/Sometimes_Stutters
  • 08
    Death ByBamboo 17 hr. ago edited 16 hr. ago The good looking ultra-popular kids in my high school went to good schools, got good jobs, and became really successful adults. One became a doctor, one became a union president, one became a toy exec and married an exec on a streaming platform, one was a professional football player for a few years. 30 years on, they're still good looking and charismatic. Not high school, but a kid I was in grade school with became a famous actor with a beloved TV rol
    via u/Death ByBamboo
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    LaughWander 13 hr. ago Yeah this is my experience too. I don't know any of the rich good looking kids from high school that failed. Most are still rich and left home and went to great schools and have great careers and beautiful partners. The only two I know who stayed in my home area are a successful real estate agent and a lawyer.
    via u/LaughWander
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    bullfeathers23 16 hr. ago I'd do the split like this: popular and mean to others vs. popular and positive with others. The popular and positive all did well in life and careers. The meanies lost whatever advantages they had in school to their own nastiness.
    via u/bullfeathers23
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    NYR3031 13 hr. ago Yep, the guys who were popular and had a nose dive after HS. really One guy, though, was the captain of our football, basketball and baseball teams. Nicest guy ever, got along with everyone and really went out of his way to just be good. He's in the MLB and crushing it. REALLY proud of him.
    via u/NYR3031
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    AvatarofSleep - 13 hr. ago There was this kid at school -- total . Gut punched my friend because he didn't have a cig (didn't smoke). Pain in the to everyone. Ran into him at a bar in my late 20s. Dude was drinking with the kid who was friends with everyone. Super nice. Bought me a beer, asked how I was. Turns out he got into construction and earned a ton building houses. Mentioned how he in school, but how none of that was mattered. Last time I saw him, years later, he tried to get me into a po
    via u/AvatarofSleep
  • 13
    bread217 17 hr. ago Most went to college, got good jobs, bought houses, married other attractive people and the cycle continues
    via u/bread217
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    Starscream4prez2024 17 hr. ago Became a stock broker, developed drug and addiction, got low, got clean, married a mormon woman. Got her addicted to crack. Continued to smoke crack with his mormon wife, get her pregnant, get arrested for fraud and sent to prison last I checked.
    via u/Starscream4prez2024
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    Pu239U235 17 hr. ago Deceased. Motorcycle accident. He was nice, funny, generous, and kind of a rascal. So basically everybody liked him. He was in med school when he died.
    via u/Pu239U235
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    redditordeaditor6789. 17 hr. ago The very beautiful popular girl in my grade pulled a papertowns by dropping contact with pretty much everyone and moved to South Africa where she seems to live a fairly luxurious life now. Pretty cool move if you ask me.
    via u/redditordeaditor6789
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    ChibiSailorMercury 17 hr. ago She became a kick nurse; she was on the healthcare professionals team who helped one of my friends give birth to healthy twins.
    via u/ChibiSailorMercury
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    Admin . 17 hr. ago They went to college or the workplace and found out they were just average.
    via u/Admin*****
  • 19
    mrsmunsonbarnes - 16 hr. ago if I know. When someone tells you popularity as a high schooler doesn't matter later in life, they're right because I feel no desire to keep track of the popular kids we were all so invested in as teens.
    via u/mrsmunsonbarnes

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