One of the things that struck me about Strina's original post was how she felt that she may be 'less likeable' than when she was 9. At that age I suspect that many of us are trying to learn how to fit in and be part of a group, to accquire the 'identity' of a group and not to be the outsider, the odd one out.  So we learn 'skills' to blend in, we adjust our behaviour in order that we can be accepted. That's an ongoing process throughout life to a certain extent - adapting to the social/work environment that we find ourselves in.

I lost contact with school and college friends long ago. The two school friends that I had maintained contact with seemed to feel that my moving to a different part of London and changing my line of work seriously altered things. Maybe it did but I don't really mourn the absence of that friendship now, just feel a bit wistful every now and again. I just know that if I went to some kind of reunion I would revert back to how I was then - shy, hesitant to offer opinions,  eager to agree. I'm a different person now and, I'd would like to hope, no less likeable. Just,  different. Oh, and older

It is an odd thing, being in touch with people you used to know - when Friends reunited first started, I sent out emails to lots of people but as has been said elseware here, people had moved on and some of them just wanted to bragg about how well they had done.  One of my very best friends from middle school (aged 8 - 10) invited us to his wedding but we couldn't go due to other comminments.  As for many of the others who weren't bragging, they just didn't bother and what puzzled me was some people i really wanted to get back in touch with weren't even there!
Having said all that, i am still in touch with my oldest friends from senior school (we've known eachother for 24 years now!) and we get together regularly and have a really good time. 

I finally let curiosity get the better of me today and googled my foundation year tutor, Ken Back. I was saddened to read that we lost him in 2002, I think partly I feel the loss more keenly because I still remember him as a quiet, unassuming thirty-something, but that was thirty years ago.