ADVERTISEMENT

High school crush... Most of us probably have a name or two that already popped up in our mind. Teenage romance, with so little knowledge, so many new and confusing feelings, navigating situations you're experiencing for the first time in your life. Have you ever figured out what made them so attractive for you? If you never made a move, do you regret it, or do you think it turned out for the better? Do you know what they're up to now?

One Reddit user had pretty much the same questions. They wanted to know "how did your high school crush turn out as an adult?", and people were eager to share their stories. After all, this, often the very first, crush has left a mark on many, as it is a very vulnerable and intense experience happening during our formative years.

From tragic losses to actually putting a ring on the person's finger, Bored Panda selected the most interesting accounts from people who kept tabs on their crushes and actually know what they're up to. Upvote your favorites and don't hesitate to share the story of your high school crush if you have one!

#1

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Still super hot. She married some loser and has a few kids with him.

That loser was me. Just celebrated 22 years of marriage.

BobSacramanto , Elina Fairytale Report

#2

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult He had a rollercoaster of a life. I admire him more than ever, and more than most people I know, but can't wrap my head around why I ever found him physically attractive. Maybe it was always just his heart.

By age 25, he had a PhD, a wife, and was a captain in the navy. By 30, he had two PhDs, a small business where he made a metric a*s-ton of money, and his wife was pregnant. By 31 he was diagnosed with stage-4 skin cancer that swiftly spread to his lymph nodes, bones, esophagus, and a few other places. He was told he had minimal chance of making it 5 more years. Even with the best health insurance money can buy, it still basically wiped him out.

Seven years later, he's living a comfortable but not extravagant life as a civilian contractor for the navy, same wife and two happy healthy kids, and spends most of his free time advocating for better public health care.

theMycon , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

Add photo comments
POST
BetterBitterButter
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Glad he beat cancer. He is doing a good thing by advocating for better public health care.This guy was rich and still lost most of his savings to save his life.Everyone does not have same financial capacity and everyone deserves to live.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#3

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult He’s 32 and still works at the same pizza place and is a conspiracy theorist so I feel like I dodged a bullet.

thrashglam , Max Avans Report

#4

Still cute as heck, one of the kindest and most sensitive people I know, and still one of my best friends 15 years later. He's also recently divorced (his wife was gay but needed time and support to come to terms with it) and now he and I are slowly testing the waters :) What started as a crush has matured into a deep and rich friendship, and—however it may unfold—I'm so grateful to have that relationship in my life.

Snish_Woogis Report

#5

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult She passed away our senior year, six months after she agreed to marry me after we graduated :(

MightyCaseyStruckOut , cottonbro studio Report

#6

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult My crush turned into a self-righteous prick who still lives with his parents. He became livid when he found out my husband and I had a baby. I apparently was supposed to be his back-up plan if he couldn’t find anyone better.

Pixie_gurl , cottonbro studio Report

Add photo comments
POST
SheamusFanFrom1987
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Guess who got put in the rear-view mirror now... Good on you for not being his 2nd best choice. Smh...

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Haha, my husband! Our first marriages didn't work out and we reconnected after our divorces. If only I would have confessed I had a crush on him in high school, might have saved myself a lot of trouble... Lol

Pineapple-dancer , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

#8

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Pretty good. Seems to have her life together, although she had a few setbacks. She's gone back to uni since job prospects in here field kinda sucked, but seems to be really enjoying it.

She's dating me though, so clearly her judgement sucks.

boltgun_to_the_face Report

Add photo comments
POST
Fat Harry
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the picture of someone reading a python book? Is learning python a setback? ;)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

The guy I crushed on for 2 and a half years did not end up turning out great. I'm still friends with his younger sister, so I know that he recently acquired his third DUI and his second divorce. He's currently living in his friend's basement and occasionally works for his friend's moving company as a mover, but only when he feels like it. He spends all his money on booze and owes the two moms of his 5 kids tons of child support. But man, was he hot in high school.


My second crush in high school is the only reason I got over my first crush. He's currently doing great, mostly because he gets to be married to me for going on 20 years :D.

I_Want_A_Llama Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult My high school ex randomly sent me a text years after we split up that went "I know you don't like metal, but I thought you'd like this" and a link to a clarinet cover of a metal song (I played in HS).

Little did he know that I hated playing clarinet and I was now a total metal head.

justAHeardOfLlamas , Antoni Shkraba Report

#11

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult An insanely talented molecular biology researcher at Boston. And she’s still insanely attractive

sderou20 , Artem Podrez Report

#12

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Went on to be a teenaged model for hair products, graduated from Yale, toured Europe, opened her own successful ceramics company that is sold worldwide and is often written up in magazines. Makes me feel like s**t every time I think of her.

dogchowtoastedcheese , Anna Shvets Report

Add photo comments
POST
Linda Kirkland
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

trite, but *she* doesn't make you feel ANYTHING. you do. don't blame her for your lack of happiness. that is on YOU.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult She worked with the Obama administration (I forgot in what capacity) got married to some politician’s son (don’t remember don’t care to look up.)

She is happy and that’s the only thing that matters, oh she was also our schools Valedictorian she was so busy with her job she could not organizeour high school reunion so that’s a plus.

I wasn’t head over heels for her I admired her but I knew I wasn’t for her.


Then there’s another crush of mine, we ran into each other years after graduation at grocery store. After talking I asked her out to dinner at my house, I pull out all the stops I buy rainbow trout filets and make all the fixings.

6:30 rolls around I open the door and “who the hell is this man behind her?” Oh this is my fiancé , she tells (neglected to tell me about) me. Turns out they wanted to sell me on some MLM thing. She tried to cross the threshold I put my arm out and asked them politely to leave. I turned away from the door and had my saddest meal I ever ate.

Gunslinger_11 , RODNAE Productions Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#14

Multiple degrees, on track to being a full-time educator, mother of two, and my wife.

I'm so lucky.

KJR506 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sarah SH
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My friend used to say the smartest thing he ever said was “I do.”

View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult You made me check and she is actually a very successful artist and an art teacher at a renowned university in France. She even got decorated for her work (Chevalier des arts et des lettres)

chinchenping , cottonbro studio Report

Add photo comments
POST
eeeeeeeee
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love the way the model and the artist's drawing are completely different!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult My friends high school crush was Tom Holland... Like they went to the same school

5im5am , Gage Skidmore Report

#17

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Hot douche who doesn’t really do much except go to the gym.

To be fair, that’s how he was in high school, I just liked it back then.

kevin_moran Report

Add photo comments
POST
Pamela Blue
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That can't last forever. If the steroids don't finish him, old age will. Being fit is one thing. Trying to look like a muscular Adonis is another. Pure vanity. Give me a normal looking guy any day. People who look like this tend to have very big egos and small brains to go with it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Overdosed and died last year. I got to see him before he was taken off life support with a really good mutual friend we shared (organ donor too). It was surreal seeing him dwarfed by all these machines. He had one the largest hearts I’ve ever come across.

Voltage_Biter , RODNAE Productions Report

Add photo comments
POST
SheamusFanFrom1987
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahh, jeez. It's never easy losing friends and even less so a crush. Sorry for your loss T_T

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#19

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Became a professional cheerleader, Died of breast cancer at 34. Googling names from high school is crazy!

frijolita_bonita , Pixabay Report

#21

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Began acting. It’s weird - every so often I’ll see a commercial or something and be like “oh, hey, I know them!”

My crush is an incredibly sweet person, so I’m glad.

BitwiseB , CoWomen Report

Add photo comments
POST
Christmas love
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Same with my high school crush! I happened to be channel surfing and stopped on a show called “Adam Ruins Everything”. I had never heard of it before but then suddenly I see my crush, I had to IMDB it to make sure I wasn’t seeing things! Then I found out he had a small role on “The Wolf of Wall Street”. I’m very glad to see he seems to be happy!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult My only GF in high school was my crush. Her mom banned her from dating me after about a year because my GF admitted to her mom that we were fooling around. This was about 20 years ago.

She’s still living with her mom, no kids, and as far as I know never again dated seriously after her mom broke us up. Still has the same job from high school too. It’s like her mom went way into protective overdrive and my former GF never grew up.

USPO-222 , Cody Portraits Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#23

Back when I was younger and crushing hard I got on AOL instant messenger and had gotten my crush’s screenname from a friend. I worked up the nerve to start a conversation with him and soon after some awkward small talk he sent me a message in Comic Sans, black background, red lettering, and in French. I then went to google for translation and found out he had just called me a pig, in French. Being a seemingly awkward and chubby teenager, I was literally crushed.

The heartbreak was only made worse by remembering that a few weeks prior I had selected to take French class the next year and couldn’t change it.

Years later now that I’ve *blossomed* he follows me on every social media platform, has reached out a couple of times to try and flirt/hang out. Hard pass.

I believe he’s moved away and is a teacher now.

breezylova Report

Add photo comments
POST
Margie Ang
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think that in French they use the word pig in a more intimate setting, as in "Mon petit cochon" = my little pig, a phrase to address a lover or a child. The same with the cabbage "Mon petit chou" = my little cabbage. Ils sont fous, ces francais!!! 🤣

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult I had three. One from the first two years and two from the last two.

The first one is now F to M trans, who walked to Colorado to join a cult/commune. He is now in Arizona recording rap albums.

The second girl moved to Florida and lives in a swamp. She periodically hits me up to tell me she misses me, how dumb I was that I didn't follow through, that we should get married.

The third was a missionary. She wasn't really into it once she grew up, came back home and I introduced her to one of my closest friends. They've been married for 15 years.

0/3.

DrRoborknik , RODNAE Productions Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#25

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Still a ten for looks. I'm sure she kept on as the amazing, kind person she is. She moved to another country, speaks multiple languages and is more successful than I imagined. She seems happy but we haven't talked since the time I told her how I felt about her about 20 years ago.

gorgonheap , Anna Shvets Report

Add photo comments
POST
VonBlade
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Better to say and know - for good or ill - than spend the rest of your life imagining.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

He’s an attractive gay man. I am none of those things

MelScarn Report

#27

Harvard. Degrees in writing and medicine. Became a leading surgeon in a major city. Extremely proud of her. Always had her on a pedestal.... I guess with good reason

usagiyojimbo808 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

One of them is homeless and a druggie. It's very sad.

The other one is famous in his home country, is a best selling author, and is regularly on tv. Don't have a crush on him anymore, but I'm glad we are still friends, and I'm happy for how well he's done.

I guess they balance one another out.

secondofmyname Report

Add photo comments
POST
#30

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult I briefly worked with mine and didn't realise it was her until I left for another job. She looked almost unrecognisable, but it was 15 years after I last saw her. She's married with a couple of kids now, so pretty standard life I guess.

anon , Jopwell Report

Add photo comments
POST
RL Tyler
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i had 3 crushes. 2 i know have done extremely well with their lives and i am delighted to be friends to this day.. 1 one is a professor & is a sound engineer in the movie industry! the other does computer stuff i have no clue on & has been married to the same lady from senior year in high school He was on the water polo team in HS & oh my those muscles :) - the 3rd i lost touch with & cannot find him now.. thats sad because we were once friends.

View more commentsArrow down menu
Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
#31

An MLM lady. Anti-vax. Glad I got out!

GrumpyAndStuff Report

#32

He’s an ardent Q Anon trump supporter. We’re not even American. He got married a few years ago and tried sexting me in January then blocked me when I said I don’t f**k with married men and that he was making me uncomfortable.

1s8w2MILtway Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#33

Divorced with two kids, I took her and her kids to lunch after meeting her in a mall one day. I hadn’t seen her in over 10 years. We caught up on small talk and I asked the kids if they were hungry they said yessss! I just wanted to spend more time with my crush . After lunch I asked if I could see her again..... she laughed at me and said I could never go out with someone like you. She said the exact same thing to me in high school .That’s my life ! I’m not good enough for anybody

harryhardbar Report

#34

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult She's still hot, successful and wealthy entrepreneur, and married someone with the same first name as me and who quit his job to brew beer. I crushed on her for a bit, didn't think she was interested so I dated others, then come to find out she crushed on me senior year, I was too dumb and blind, we connected freshman year of college, she wrote me letters, and by the time I wised up she had moved on. No one to blame but myself.

SignUp12345678910 , cottonbro studio Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#35

I remember walking up to her and asking if we could talk in private, and she said you can say what you need in front of everyone (her group of friends were all around). So I asked if she wanted to go on a date. She burst out laughing and said “yeah, Um no..”
S**t was rough, man.

Looked her up last year and she’s a cage fighter now. Wut

_losthighway_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
François Bouzigues
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

There is an age to learn social skills, but man, she gave you a warning sign and you decided to ignore it. She is not ready to give you enough credit to speak to you alone. How on earth would she go on a date with you ? Even a girl interested in you would not like being asked out in front of all of her friends in HS.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult There was a girl I really admired for a while, she didnt really give me the time of day after freshman year though. She was co-valedictorian and hugged me as I crossed the stage at graduation, and no one else got one. I'm still really confused about that 6 years later.

She went on to med school and is either married or at least engaged to a guy she met there. Overall shes doing really well, and I'm happy for her.

BoilingHotCumshot , Amos Getanda Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

I had several!

One of them is still a close friend, and he became a primary care doctor. He also officiated my wedding.

I have no idea what happened to another one. We didn't really have overlapping friend groups and she doesn't do social media.

One of them is a math professor now, so that's pretty cool.

My BIGGEST crush in high school was my longtime neighbor, but it also fizzled out pretty quickly after we went to homecoming together. We're still good friends, and our families still keep in touch. He's also the guy who introduced me to my husband.

clowderforce Report

Add photo comments
POST
#38

One is still active duty in the military and she has a very successful career as an officer. I hope she continues to be. The other is successful in the arts and I hope she continues to be that as well. Both are married to others who treat them well.

I'm happy that they are both happy.

My life is still going good here so I have no hard feelings.

reddit.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#39

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult I had two unrealized crushes in high school. One is a teacher and musician. She is married and has either one or two kids. We've kept in loose contact via social media and ran into each other at a NYE party shortly before she got married. I was introduced to her now-husband as 'favorite ex ever.' He seemed like a decent dude and I'm happy for her.

I believe the other became a US Attorney. I have not heard from her since google+ almost became a social media thing. I imagine she's still very productive and would be disappointed in my life choices.

ripAccount35 , Nicole Michalou Report

Add photo comments
POST
That Bi Book Lover
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my god at first I thought they meant one of their crushes was their teacher - had to read it twice for it to sink in 😅

#40

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Hedge fund manager with a trophy wife.

silberfuechsin , Dinielle De Veyra Report

Add photo comments
POST
#41

My first high school crush who sat next to me in freshman year English was a really cute punk rock girl and she’s gone on to become an incredibly hot fitness model.

Vandelay222 Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#42

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult They both ended up as great guys.

One has a huge family and is a minister. The other only has one child and is a college professor. Both married nice people and are happy.

They were really good guys in high school and ended up being really good adults. I've got both of them on Facebook and we keep in touch peripherally as we stayed friends over the years.

AssociationHuman , Vanessa Garcia Report

Add photo comments
POST
#43

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult I was a freshman and had a crush on a senior. To add to it, she was a cheerleader and her brother played QB for the football team (and got a college scholarship.)

She showed up at a football game a couple of years later with a baby in tow. She’s married now and back in her hometown. That’s about all I know.

ArmyMedicalCrab , Sarah Chai Report

Add photo comments
POST
#44

It was one of those days where they just suddenly pop into your head and you decide to try and look them up on Facebook. Found him. He ended up being a pilot. Added him and we became Facebook friends. Turns out he has a flight attendant girlfriend and they were traveling together and then few months after being fb friends they shared the news they were having a baby haha

latefreakingbloomer Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
#45

30 People Who've Kept Tabs On Their High School Crush Share How They Turned Out As An Adult Still hot af

Normaly-abnormal , Ono Kosuki Report

Add photo comments
POST
#46

She ended up getting knocked up by a freshman shortly after we graduated.

KP_Wrath Report

Add photo comments
POST
Kristine Masta
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment has been deleted.