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People Are Sharing What Happened To The "Popular Kid," And Some Of These Are So, So Dark

Jamie Ko
8 min read
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I Accidentally Became A Meme: Success Kid

Warning: This post contains mention of abuse, ****** assault, drug use, violence, and suicide.

This is a safe space to admit that we've all done a fair share of Facebook and Instagram stalking, no matter when we graduated. So we asked the brave members of the BuzzFeed Community to share what happened to the "popular kid" from their high school — and yeah…the answers are all over the place. From people who ended up exactly how you'd expect to others who took some seriously unexpected turns, here are some of the most interesting updates:

Three people sit at a school cafeteria table, engaging in conversation, each with a tray and a drink can in front of them
CBS Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

1. "He grew up rich, popular, and constantly surrounded by friends because his dad had money and wasn't afraid to spend it. A few years after high school, it came out that his dad had been embezzling millions from friends and family. His dad went to prison, their entire lifestyle collapsed, and he ended up changing his name and becoming a completely different person."

Two older men, one in a suit with glasses resting his face in his hands, the other seated beside him
JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE / Belga/AFP via Getty Images

2. "She was one of the most popular girls in school, but also one of the cruelest people I've ever met. She went out of her way to humiliate only me constantly, and it stuck with me for years. When I later saw that she had passed away, I didn't feel any kind of sadness — just a really complicated mix of emotions."

—Anonymous, 51, California

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3. "One of them recently reached out to me, trying to sell some MLM product like we were still close…and another became a real estate agent whose only reviews are from the same two friends he's had since high school. Some things really don't change."

—jessethecowgirl

4. "One of the 'popular kids' now runs what's basically a dropshipping pyramid scheme selling cheap polyester stuff online. They still post like they're wildly successful, but everyone who knows them can see right through it."

Packages stacked on a desk near a laptop and stationery, ready for mailing
MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle Vi / MediaNews Group via Getty Images

5. "One of the most popular guys ended up marrying the 'it girl' from our school, and from the outside, it looked like everything worked out perfectly. But over time, he struggled with alcoholism and their relationship fell apart. They eventually divorced, and it was a much messier ending than anyone expected."

—Anonymous, 50, California

6. "One of the former 'popular kids' completely changed after college. He gained weight, lost his starting spot, checked into rehab for alcoholism, and started reaching out to people he had hurt to apologize. When I ran into him years later, he was genuinely kind and self-aware. It was honestly really nice to see."

—u/JBgolf28

7. "Three popular kids went swimming in a quarry one day, and only two of them came out. The one who died was the kind of person who was nice to literally everyone, even people who weren't in his circle. It made the whole thing hit a lot harder than anyone expected."

A group of people enjoys a sunny day at the lake, some lounging on the shore and others swimming or boating
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8. "He was a star football player and definitely had that 'better than everyone else' attitude in high school. After college, he actually seemed to be doing well…until he got federally charged for a kidnapping plot and fraud. He didn't even make it to trial, and it completely flipped how people saw him."

—Anonymous, Michigan

Related: 21 Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Disturbing Wikipedia Pages About Unethical Experiments, Diseases, And Other Body Horrors

9. "He ended up having an affair with his best friend's mom after the dad had passed away, and eventually they got caught. She was arrested for statutory rape, and his friend had to move away with his younger siblings. It completely blew up multiple families at once."

—u/B1GR3D23

10. "One of the most popular guys turned out to have a really dark home life that no one knew about. At one point, his stepdad showed up to school with a weapon, and the whole place went into lockdown before he was arrested. After everything came out about the abuse, people treated him completely differently, but he also became way more withdrawn."

A police car parked outside South Hadley High School building
MediaNews Group/Boston Herald Vi / MediaNews Group via Getty Images

11. "He went out drinking one night with a friend and ended up driving home, crashing into a brick wall at full speed. His friend barely survived, but he died on impact. It was one of those things that shook the entire school because it felt so preventable."

—u/DesertStorm11

12. "He was the rich, popular kid, but also one of the nicest people you could meet. After high school, his parents divorced, and he got heavily into cocaine, eventually going to rehab and gaining a lot of weight. He's still on my Facebook now and seems to be doing okay, which honestly feels like a good outcome considering everything."

—u/hobbsarelie83

13. "He ended up becoming the head of a local water district and made a decision that completely changed everything for the town. A bunch of farmers lost their water access and went out of business…but it led to the restoration of wetlands, the return of an 'extinct' snail species, and now they literally have to manage the bird population because of it. It's honestly one of the wildest ripple effects I've ever heard."

View of an empty rural road with buildings, trees, and a gas station sign along the sides
HUM Images / HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Related: 13 Horrifying And Tragic Historical Facts That I Guarantee You Never Learned In School, Because They're Just *That* Dark

14. "My brother was one of the popular kids, and for years, his life went downhill with pills, cocaine, and heroin, along with multiple arrests and rehab stints. He spent a long time stuck, but now he's finally a year sober and starting to rebuild his life. It's been a huge turnaround."

—u/[deleted]

15. "He was your stereotypical hockey jock who loved making fun of people, especially girls, and thought he was untouchable. Years later, he got caught acting wildly inappropriately around underage girls, and one of their dads literally beat the **** out of him. He lost his job and basically disappeared after that. ... Karma is real."

—Anonymous, 31, Canada

16. "He was a popular athlete who mostly stuck to his own circle and ignored everyone else. Years later, someone sent me his mugshot along with details of his arrest for countless charges of inappropriate behavior involving minors, and it was honestly shocking to see. It completely changed the way I remembered him."

Two police officers ****** a handcuffed man in casual clothing across an open area
JONAS ROOSENS / BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

17. "One of the most well-liked guys lost his mom in a sudden accident when we were still in school. After that, he completely shut down — stopped talking to people, stopped showing up, and eventually just disappeared from everyone's lives. No one really knows what happened to him after that."

—u/ttywzl

18. "There was a guy who seemed like he had everything — good looks, friends, a hot girlfriend, and no obvious problems. Years later, it came out that he had tried to take his own life and survived, but with serious long-term damage. Seeing him now is a constant reminder that you never really know what someone is dealing with."

—u/scooter669979

19. "One of the most popular cheerleaders got into a four-wheeling accident that left her in an almost vegetative state. She's spent years slowly rebuilding her independence, but her life is completely different now. It's honestly scary how quickly something like that can change everything."

Woman riding an ATV through a muddy trail, splashing water and dirt
Justin Goff Photos / Justin Goff Photos/Getty Images
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20. "One of the biggest bullies from our school somehow became a priest later in life. You'd think that kind of path would change someone, but from what I've heard…he's still just as much of a jerk."

—Anonymous, 50, California

Related: 39 Photos That Will Take Boomers On A Very, Very Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane

21. "The most popular girl at our school came from a super wealthy family and had everything going for her — huge house, cheer captain, horses, tanning beds, a ******* helicopter. During senior year, she got pregnant, her friends completely abandoned her, and she ended up dropping out. Years later, I heard she had extensive plastic surgery while struggling with depression and now rarely leaves her house. It's a completely different life than what anyone expected."

—u/TerpinOne

22. "She used to hang out with the 'rich kids,' and everyone assumed she'd end up with a stable, comfortable life just by being in that crowd. But when I caught up with her years later, she was living in a trailer and really struggling. It just goes to show that things don't always turn out the way people expect."

Trailer overloaded with household items on top, surrounded by a fence, mountains in the background
MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Dail / MediaNews Group via Getty Images

23. Lastly, "He was the captain of the football team, super well-liked, and the kind of person younger kids looked up to. After a surgery, he got hooked on painkillers, which eventually turned into heroin. Years of arrests and struggling followed, and he ended up dying from it. It was devastating watching someone who seemed to have everything slowly lose it all."

—u/VIntageJT

Okay...I was not expecting these to get this dark. If you've ever looked up the "popular kid" at your school and were surprised by what you found, I need to hear it — drop it in the comments or submit it below. Your story might end up in a future BuzzFeed Community post.

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline is 1-800-950-6264 (NAMI) and provides information and referral services; GoodTherapy.org is an association of mental health professionals from more than 25 countries who support efforts to reduce harm in therapy.

Dial 988 in the United States to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org. The Trevor Project, which provides help and suicide-prevention resources for LGBTQ youth, is 1-866-488-7386.

If you or someone you know has experienced ****** assault, you can call the National ****** Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE, which routes the caller to their nearest ****** assault service provider. You can also search for your local center here.

If you are concerned that a child is experiencing or may be in danger of abuse, you can call or text the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453(4.A.CHILD); service can be provided in over 140 languages. 

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HuffPost

I Was Enrolled In A 'Gifted' Program As A Kid. Years Later, I Discovered A Dark Side I Never Knew About.

Sophie Boudreau
8 min read
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"In G/T, I learned quickly that much of my self-esteem came from academic praise and approval from adults," the author writes. Alena Shafieva via Getty Images

I don't remember precisely when I first heard the word "gifted," but it must have been in early elementary school. I do remember being pulled out of my first-grade class and led to the fifth-grade classroom, where a teacher told me to choose a chapter book that was "more at my level." 

I appreciated the chance to choose from all sorts of new books, but it marked an early example of what would eventually be both a privilege and a curse: my foray into being "set apart" academically from my fellow classmates. 

Read: This After-School Program For Trans And Queer Youth Is The Blueprint For Resistance

By the time I reached middle school, the gifted and talented program in my district had taken wing. The timing makes sense: In 1998, many American schools were provided with official K-12 standards for so-called "gifted education" by the National Association of Gifted Children. While the NAGC first promoted advanced academic programming in the 1950s, its work in the late '80s and '90s represented a more structured approach to educating students who were found to be gifted.

If you believe in deeply personal journalism — the kind that connects us in our hardest, most honest moments — please consider becoming a HuffPost member today.

K-12 gifted education standards were preceded by the passage of the Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Act in 1988, which secured funding to "orchestrate a coordinated program of scientifically based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities that build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students." 

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In those early days, my experience with Gifted & Talented (or G/T, as we fondly called it) was almost entirely positive. Our G/T class was tucked away in a windowless classroom whose walls we decorated with silly drawings and posters. Several of my close friends were also in the program, and there was nothing better than getting to hang out with them for an hour or two per day while working on our largely self-assigned curriculum. Our teacher was warm and encouraging, always pushing each of us to incorporate our individual interests and skills into projects. 

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In fact, nearly all the teachers I worked with in G/T were engaged educators who genuinely wanted their students to thrive. I'm forever grateful for their personal guidance, regardless of my later reflections on the program. In so many ways, G/T was a safe place at school — a place where I could be my true (weird) self and engage in more self-directed learning.

But there was a troubling flip side to the G/T experience that took me years to unpack. From what I could gather, most students qualified for the program based on standardized test scores. While the NAGC defines gifted pupils as "those who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude (defined as an exceptional ability to reason and learn) or competence (documented performance or achievement in top 10% or rarer) in one or more domains," it seems inevitable that many kids would be excluded from gifted education for factors beyond their control.

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In her 2016 book "Engaging and Challenging Gifted Students: Tips for Supporting Extraordinary Minds in Your Classroom," Jenny Grant Rankin, Ph.D., outlines gaps in gifted education. Nonwhite students, socioeconomically disadvantaged kids, girls, and those classified as English language learners are disproportionately excluded from gifted and talented programming, Rankin reports. 

She also cites a 2016 study by Jason A. Grissom and Christopher Redding that found that Black students were 50% less likely to be considered for gifted and talented programs than their white counterparts, even when both groups recorded similar standardized test scores. What's more, students of color were less likely to be labeled gifted when their teachers were white. 

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In G/T, I learned quickly that much of my self-esteem came from academic praise and approval from adults. The "gifted" label seeped into everything I did and was a stumbling block at times — if I struggled to master a concept in math class or didn't understand a question on a social studies test, I'd avoid asking for help. After all, I was gifted. I shouldn't need help with anything, right? 

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It felt like my so-called "natural" giftedness should pre-qualify me to succeed in any endeavor, which led me to prematurely give up on new hobbies later in life when I didn't immediately feel like a master.

And when a project in a non-G/T class earned anything less than an A, I often found myself in tears and seeking reassurance from my family and friends that I was "still smart." 

The author poses for an obligatory first day of school photo, wearing a pair of fake glasses that she believed to be VERY cool.
The author poses for an obligatory first day of school photo, wearing a pair of fake glasses that she believed to be VERY cool. Photo Courtesy Of Sophie Boudreau

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The question of "potential" was another overwhelming aspect of G/T. Gifted kids at my school were encouraged to pursue all sorts of fields — with the unspoken message that no matter what we pursued, we were expected to be excellent. Most of us went on to take as many Advanced Placement classes in high school as our schedules would allow, driven by the sense that we simply had to be high achievers. Academic excellence would translate directly to excellence in career and life in general, many of us thought. 

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It wasn't until college that I first experienced the lingering impacts of the gifted education experience. Suddenly, I was a very small fish in the massive pond that is the University of Michigan. I wasn't the "smart kid" anymore— I was one of thousands of "smart kids," all of whom had ambitions on par with or beyond my own. College instructors rarely offered direct praise, and the occasional B in a class became commonplace. When I couldn't maintain perfection, I felt like I was failing the version of myself I was supposed to become.

Unsurprisingly, college was also when my mental health took its first major nosedive. Alongside a handful of personal issues, my sudden sense of academic invisibility had triggered a crisis. My path felt unclear. Wasn't I supposed to get to college, breeze through with perfect grades, and immediately jump into an impressive career?

When graduation rolled around, I got a dose of validation by heading off on a Fulbright teaching grant to Malaysia, but my life beyond that looked so blurry. It took a long time to admit that I didn't want to go to grad school, which felt shameful. Without academic validation or "high achievement" on the table, would I be untethered forever?  

In the decade since, I've drawn connections between my most plaguing anxieties and my early education. It's taken practice to feel more comfortable with accepting professional criticism or admitting when I'm not sure how to do something at work.

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I see how my G/T years merged self-worth with accolades and grades, and I feel sad for the younger version of myself — along with other "formerly gifted" peers — who internalized so many false measures of success. 

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At times, adulthood feels like an ongoing battle to remind myself that I'm a valuable, worthy person, regardless of outward achievements. 

I'm not alone: In recent years, the "formerly gifted kid" trope has become something of a meme, with TikTokers cracking dark jokes about their lingering sense of anxiety, perfectionism and perceived failure to live up to parents' and teachers' expectations. It's funny because it's true.

Data shows that while gifted programs can result in better long-term academic outcomes and college success for some students, these benefits still reflect inequities. A 2021 study by Grissom and Redding found that small associations existed between participation in gifted programming and long-term achievement in math and reading, but there was no evidence to support a correlation between gifted kids and their general engagement with school. 

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Most glaringly, even these small positive associations were skewed toward higher-income white pupils, with low-income or Black gifted students excluded from long-term academic gains. What's more, this research doesn't begin to explore gifted education's extended impact on social and emotional development for all participants. 

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I don't regret my time as a gifted kid, but I do wish G/T had offered more care for students' mental health and more inclusivity for children who didn't fit the program's relatively narrow mold of exceptionalism. I wish I could unlearn the idea that outward praise equals true success, and measure excellence in the form of learning for learning's sake.

Above all, I wish we'd had an environment where every single student was reminded how smart and talented they were, and given the tools to explore their gifts — no matter what form they took.

This piece was previously published on HuffPost and is being shared again now as part of HuffPost Personal's "Best Of" series.

Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.

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People

Rosie O’Donnell Shares Photo, Thoughts After Visiting Daughter Chelsea, 28, in Prison

Chelsea O'Donnell was sentenced to jail in October after she was arrested three times in 2024

Bailey Richards
4 min read
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Rosie O'Donnell; Rosie O'Donnell with her daughter ChelseaCredit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Rosie O'Donnell/Instagram
Rosie O'Donnell; Rosie O'Donnell with her daughter Chelsea
Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty; Rosie O'Donnell/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

  • Rosie O'Donnell shared a heartfelt poem about visiting her daughter Chelsea O'Donnell in prison

  • The comedian reflected on "unconditional love," motherhood, Chelsea's sobriety, the duo's tumultuous relationship and more in the emotional writing

  • Chelsea, 28, is serving prison time after her probation was revoked in October following multiple arrests in 2024

Rosie O'Donnell is reflecting after a visit to see her daughter Chelsea O'Donnell in prison.

The 64-year-old actress' daughter had her probation revoked and was sentenced to jail in October after she was arrested three times in 2024, starting with a September arrest on multiple felony charges, including neglecting a child and possession of methamphetamine.

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Rosie recently visited Chelsea in prison — which she said the 28-year-old requested — and she reflected on the experience through poetry she shared alongside a mother-daughter selfie on Instagram (and via Substack) on Friday, June 12. The photo, seemingly taken during the visit, shows Chelsea smiling as she wrapped her arms around her mother.

In a poem about the visit, Rosie said her heart skipped "a beat" the moment Chelsea walked through the door in the visitation room. "She looks good," the actress wrote. "Healthy calm / Rested blue eyes / Clear skin / In her green uniform."

The pair embraced, according to Rosie. She added that she held "on tight" to her daughter and stared "into her eyes."

Rosie O'Donnell with her daughter ChelseaCredit: Rosie O'Donnell/Instagram
Rosie O'Donnell with her daughter Chelsea
Credit: Rosie O'Donnell/Instagram

"We have been thru so much," the A League of Their Own actress continued in the poem.

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Reflecting on her daughter's own children, Rosie said Chelsea's four kids "have not visited" their mom in prison, "which pains her I know."

The comedian then wrote that she tried "to stay present" during the prison visit. "I try to shake the sadness," she said.

Of her daughter, Rosie wrote, "It's hard enough for her / She turns 29 this summer / And all I see when I look at her / Is a blonde baby in diapers."

The prison visit was "cut short" due to weather conditions, Rosie said in the poem. She noted that after a "quick hug," she was back outside in her car.

"It storms all the way to the hotel / As I try to process / All that's happened," the actress wrote. "It was a big day for both of us."

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Rosie — who is a mom to five children total, four with her ex-wife, Kelli Carpenter, and her fifth with late ex-wife Michelle Rounds — said she slept "for hours" after the emotional visit, for which she was "proud of us both."

Rosie O'Donnell with daughter ChelseaCredit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Rosie O'Donnell with daughter Chelsea
Credit: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

"Unconditional love / Simply the only way / Thru motherhood," she added. "Love and forgiveness a must / Even when it seems impossible / Especially then / We live we learn we grow / Even at 64."

Rosie also shared some of her thoughts from "before" the visit on Substack. "She's not fighting it anymore / This relationship we have / Her sobriety helps so much / Gives me hope," she wrote of Chelsea.

In a later stanza, Rosie added of her child, "I told her I may cry when I see her / There in prison clothes." She said her daughter responded, "Why mom — it's not bad in here — I have friends now."

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Chelsea calls Rosie from prison "daily," she said. Rosie added that the mother-daughter pair have "gotten closer / Thru these tense times / And I'm grateful for that."

"That she's alive," she continued in the poem. "Looking forward to her release / Planning her post-prison / journey / Drug free / Getting back with her children / Making amends / Dreaming of peace / For the first time / As am I."

Rosie O'Donnell with her daughter Chelsea as a childCredit: M. Von Holden/Getty
Rosie O'Donnell with her daughter Chelsea as a child
Credit: M. Von Holden/Getty

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Chelsea appeared in court for sentencing on the three felony counts she pleaded guilty to in February: resisting or obstructing an officer, felony bail jumping and possession of methamphetamine.

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In March, she was sentenced to six years probation — a two-year sentence for each of the three guilty counts. Chelsea was told she could face prison time should she violate any of the probation requirements, which included absolute sobriety, no possession of alcohol or another controlled substance without a valid prescription, no contact with any known drug users or sellers and no possession or ownership of any firearm.

Her probation was revoked, and she was sentenced to prison time on Oct. 22, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.

In a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time, Rosie said, "I have compassion for those struggling with addiction - Chelsea was born into addiction and it has been a painful journey for her and her four young children. We continue to love and support her through these horrible times. Prayers welcomed."

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

Read the original article on People

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