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At the time we’re stuck in it, like hostages locked in a Turkish bath, high school seems the most serious business in the world to just about all of us. It’s not until the second or third class reunion that we start realizing how absurd the whole thing was.
Stephen King
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Interpretation

What this quote means

High school feels overwhelmingly important while we are in it, but looks trivial in hindsight.

Stephen King's quote reflects on the intense pressures and emotions experienced during high school, where each event and concern seems monumental. However, with the passage of time and perspective gained from reunions, we often come to see that those challenges were not as consequential as they once felt, highlighting the absurdity of our previous seriousness about it.

Themes

High SchoolPerspectiveAbsurdityReunionGrowth

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be shared in a graduation speech to remind students about the importance of perspective.

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