After tracking children's progress for years, scientists concluded that appearance was linked to higher test scores in reading and math. Good-looking kids tend to do better than their less-striking classmates.
To learn what happens to them post-graduation, Reddit user TheMightySwede asked people to share where the pretty girls and boys from their school ended up in adulthood.
The stories provide interesting insight into privilege, potential, personal choice, and chance, reminding us that nothing is guaranteed — even if things seem to be going one way, the tide can turn at any time.
#2
She was a real jerk in high school. I remember once she asked me out, then humiliated me in front of her friends when I said yes. Some "you really think I would go out with you" stuff
Then, 12 years later, in another city, I run into her again, she was working at the same homeless person drop in center as I was, she's so kind and gentle, even with frustrating people, she's empathetic, she apologized to me and it felt sincere and she never gave me a reason after that to think she wasn't.
Sometimes people can change. I didn't fully believe it, but after that second meeting I do.
Then, 12 years later, in another city, I run into her again, she was working at the same homeless person drop in center as I was, she's so kind and gentle, even with frustrating people, she's empathetic, she apologized to me and it felt sincere and she never gave me a reason after that to think she wasn't.
Sometimes people can change. I didn't fully believe it, but after that second meeting I do.
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48points
#3
Don’t know. I haven’t spoken to anyone from my high school since the day I graduated. It’s fantastic.
25points
#4
She's had like 5 kids in the past 8 years, still smokin hot. Divorced. we haven't talked since high school, but about six months ago I uploaded a picture of myself to Facebook and she liked it. Guess you could say things are getting pretty serious...
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24points
#6
The popular girl in my high school and I were close friends but she actively destroyed girls in high school. Then, about two years after high school she spent a significant about of time and energy finding these girls, apologizing and asking for their friendship.
I don’t know what changed but I can tell you the girls that accepted her apology just say “she was hurting as well”
Hurt people, hurt people.
I don’t know what changed but I can tell you the girls that accepted her apology just say “she was hurting as well”
Hurt people, hurt people.
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22points
#7
The one guy that stood out to me in school was not the most popular guy at school but he was always clean looking, had the best trainers, expensive watch/jacket and hair always perfect and he was a nice guy to boot, just came from a well to do family that showed in his appearance. He now has a great job, a gorgeous wife and two beautiful children.
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21points
#8
I was visiting my home town once and I saw him riding a tractor down a main street.
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18points
#10
She became arguably the most famous supermodel in the world and made the cover of Sports Illustrated, twice - Kate Upton.
17points
#11
Cancer got her about 10 years ago. She was a very nice person, had a young daughter. It was very sad.
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17points
#12
He co-owns a restaurant and he lost all his beautiful hair :( But he's still handsome.
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15points
#13
I saw Mr. Homecoming King at a party four years after. This handsome "drop-your-panties"-kind of guy gained about 50-60 pounds and was an obnoxious drunk...
"TRENT MCNEELY!".
"TRENT MCNEELY!".
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14points
#14
10+ years later she is still hot, married a good looking guy, has a couple good looking kids.
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13points
#15
Popular in my school was any JROTC brat. She was captian of the color guard and recieved the highest ranking in JROTC before she graduated.
Now she's sleeping soundly beside me, just proposed to her late last year. Pretty funny considering how we never talked in high school.
Now she's sleeping soundly beside me, just proposed to her late last year. Pretty funny considering how we never talked in high school.
13points
#16
Hottest girl went on to do an engineering degree at an Ivy League (yup), still hot, still smart, it's almost unfair.
12points
#17
The hottest girl converted the slacker/party guy who always liked her to Christianity and he got his life together and became an engineer. They married and have a happy family together. (The guy is not me.)
The hottest guy played professional sports after high school, married a Kennedy and now is soaking up the nepotism working towards inheriting his dad's financial planning firm. (Also not me.).
The hottest guy played professional sports after high school, married a Kennedy and now is soaking up the nepotism working towards inheriting his dad's financial planning firm. (Also not me.).
12points
#18
Anybody else go to a massive highschool (3000+ students) who didn't have a "popular group" because there were just too many of us?
I probably knew about 50 people total and hung out with substantially less. And I considered myself a very social person back then.
I probably knew about 50 people total and hung out with substantially less. And I considered myself a very social person back then.
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12points
#19
She's a stay at home farm wife. I know it doesn't sound like much but, all her life she said she was going to move out west and marry a cowboy and, that's exactly what she did. She moved out to Montana and married some dude who's dad owned a ranch. They eventually moved back here (MN) and bought a small farm. She didn't have a big dream but, she had one and she's living it.
I don't keep in touch with many people from high school but I'm like 90% sure that the second most popular girl in my class ended up marrying one of our football coaches. I think he was in his 20s when we were seniors so it's probably not that big of an age difference but still......
I don't keep in touch with many people from high school but I'm like 90% sure that the second most popular girl in my class ended up marrying one of our football coaches. I think he was in his 20s when we were seniors so it's probably not that big of an age difference but still......
12points
#20
Ours never left our tiny hometown or high school really. Literally went to college 20 minutes away, worked at a local business till she got a job at the high school to relive her glory days. Her wedding was basically a high school reunion.
12points