Some people leave school and move on with their lives, but others seem to get stuck in a time warp, convinced that their teenage glory days still matter.
Whether they were the popular kid, the star athlete, or the one who always got the lead in the school play, some people never quite shake the belief that they’re still as important as they once were in the corridors of their old school. If you’ve ever wondered whether someone still clings to their past status, here are some obvious signs they still think they’re the big deal from school.
1. They bring up their school achievements way too often.
Most people might casually mention their school years now and then, but if someone keeps dropping stories about their football championships, their starring role in the school play, or how they “dominated” the social scene, it’s a red flag. If they can’t go two conversations without reminiscing about their high school victories like they happened yesterday, it’s a sign they haven’t quite moved on.
2. They assume everyone remembers them.
People who peaked in school tend to expect that everyone from their past still knows who they are. They act shocked when someone doesn’t instantly recall their name or legendary reputation. Even if you only vaguely remember them from a couple of classes, they’ll assume you were in awe of them back then. If they throw in a “You must remember me!” with a disappointed look, they’re still living in their teenage self’s world.
3. They expect VIP treatment at reunions.
School reunions are fun for catching up, but some people turn up expecting the red carpet to be rolled out for them. They walk in like royalty, waiting for people to fawn over them. If that doesn’t happen, they either act like the event is beneath them or spend the night subtly steering conversations back to their past greatness.
4. Their social media is stuck in the past.
If someone’s profile picture is still from their school days, or their bio includes something like “Class of ‘09 legend,” they might be holding onto their past a little too tightly. People like this often post throwback pictures from their glory days, captioning them with things like “Those were the days” or “Nothing beats our year.” While nostalgia is normal, living in it isn’t.
5. They assume their old status still matters.
In school, cliques and social rankings felt like the most important thing in the world. But in adulthood, nobody cares who was “cool” at 16. The ones who haven’t moved on, however, still act like their old popularity gives them some kind of unspoken power. They may assume that people will automatically respect or admire them based on who they used to be, rather than what they’ve done since.
6. They act like life peaked back then.
Someone who still thinks they’re a big deal from school often talks about those years as if they were the highlight of their entire existence. They treat their school days like a golden era they’ll never top. If they constantly say things like “Those were the best years of my life” or seem disappointed by the present, it’s clear they’ve been struggling to move forward.
7. They compare every life event to school.
Whether it’s their job, friendships, or even parenting, they somehow manage to link everything back to their teenage years. They might say things like, “This reminds me of that time in Year 11 when I…” in situations that have nothing to do with school. It’s as if their brain has bookmarked school as the centre of the universe, and they can’t stop drawing comparisons to it.
8. They expect people to react to them the way they did in school.
Back then, maybe they were used to people laughing at their jokes, listening to their opinions, or treating them like the main character. Now, they seem confused or annoyed when people don’t automatically respond the same way. If they get frustrated when they don’t get the attention they’re used to, it’s a sure sign they’re still waiting for people to recognise their supposed status.
9. They struggle to relate to people who weren’t in their school circle.
It’s fine to have school friends, but if someone still only connects with people from that time or struggles to form relationships outside of their old circle, they might be stuck in the past. They may find it hard to talk to people who don’t know their school history or who don’t seem impressed by their former status.
10. They try to “mentor” people who never asked.
Some people who were a big deal in school assume they can offer wisdom to those they used to outrank, even when nobody asked. They might give unsolicited life advice, assuming they still hold some kind of leadership role over their former peers. If they’re offering guidance like they’re still the head of a school clique, it’s clear they’re still living in that mindset.
11. They expect admiration for things that are no longer impressive.
Winning a school award, being prom royalty, or captaining the football team were all great at the time. But in adulthood, those things don’t hold the same weight. If someone still expects admiration for things they achieved as a teenager rather than what they’ve done as an adult, they’re clearly still clinging to their former status.
12. They dismiss anyone who wasn’t “cool” back then.
People who can’t move on from their school status sometimes still judge everyone else based on who they were as teenagers. If they meet someone who was quiet or awkward back then, they might still treat them as if they’re the same person now. Rather than recognising that people grow and change, they stay locked in their old view of the social hierarchy, not realising that none of it matters anymore.
13. They make passive-aggressive comments about people doing better than them.
Nothing bursts the bubble of an old school big shot like seeing someone they used to overlook doing well in life. If someone who was once at the top of the social ladder starts making backhanded compliments about other people’s success, it’s a sign they’re struggling with the change. They might say things like “I can’t believe they ended up doing so well” or “Who would have thought they’d be the one to make it?” as if the world hasn’t moved on from their school status.
