Last Friday I went to a football game, my former high school’s first away game, to be exact.

Returning to my Alma mater did not seem like an ideal Friday night, but my friend really wanted to go, and I had no plans of my own, unless you count watching Netflix as a plan. I ran a brush through my hair, swept some eye shadow on and was soon on my way to basking under some Friday night lights.

I have been to several high school functions since graduation but have always taken care not to become “That Guy.” That Guy is a person who may or may not be trying to relive their high school days vicariously through things like sporting events.

As my friend and I took our seats on the long aluminum benches of the football stadium, I was trying my hardest not to look like That Guy.

At first, I tried to be aloof; I was trying to appear cool and collegiate, whatever that means. That front wore down pretty quickly though, as I don’t have a cool bone in my body.

I thought about how I used to enjoy games like this. I knew I could never recreate the feeling I had in high school, but honestly whose business was it if I danced to a marching band playing “Smoke on the Water?” I shook off the worry of looking like That Guy and ended up having a great time.

You should never worry about looking like That Guy because he doesn’t even exist. Just because you’ve graduated and are supposed to be a “real” adult now, does not mean if you maintain some ties to your high school you’re trying to go back. And if someone judges you for doing so, I don’t think it’s you who needs to do the growing up.