Is it too late now to say sorry? 

Sorry 2026, 2016 is making its comeback through culture, peak nostalgia and a craving for authentic energy. Since the beginning of the new year, social media has been filled with users instantly sharing their throwback posts with Instagram’s iconic Rio de Janeiro filter on. It was an era of “cultural significance”, now everyone wants to relive its impact. Texans started their engines and raced down Lamar’s 2016 memory lane.  High school sweethearts, who were freshmen in 2016, Claire O’Tool and Eduardo Montesflores dusted off their albums to reminisce the “most remarkable” of high school. “It was a culmination of Rihanna’s songs, Drake’s “Hotline Bling” dance, and the Mannequin challenge,” the pair specified. 

On the rise of social media, O’Tool and Montesflores recall utilizing Snapchat to capture every picture-perfect moment. “We used to take selfies with the dog or flower crown filter,” they said. Before TikTok took over today’s screens, students thrived on Musical.ly. “If you were on your phone, you were recording something—not doomscrolling,” Montesflores expressed. “Tumblr fandoms were alive and well, too,” O’Tool added. Pop culture wasn’t just consumed by Texans; they contributed to it by lip-syncing Vine audios and hitting “the Dab” to mid-2010 hits. 

From skinny jeans to chokers, the 2016 fashion scene never went out of style. Despite the strong dress code, O’Tool recalled, “Girls paired uniforms with fish nets, accessories, and a winged eyeliner.” Furthermore, not only did students embrace diversity in culture but also in showcasing their personalities. “You either have the brightest hair dye or an all-white aesthetic. Either way, people did fit checks in the restrooms often,” Montesflores shared. 

A day in 2016 meant waking up to “Dangerous Woman” by Ariana Grande as your iPhone 6 alarm. “Many drink the older Starbucks iced Frappuccino in the hallways while I trained for swimming every other morning,” O’Tool noted. After this routine, “I hopped into class with wired earphones, bracing myself for the IB classes.” Meanwhile, Montesflores spent lunches in the comfort of “the spot,” the outside stairs by the performance hall. “Other students chill on the field. Both the east and west wings still had the art deco design, and our class of 2020 was the last one to use it,” he explained. Additionally, the couple emphasized the difference in current and traditional education: “We did not have AI before, everything was written and thought from scratch.” 

Now as newly engaged adults ten years later, O’Tool encourages students to “appreciate the good and cringey moments.” Hard lessons were learned that were taken beyond school, with the help of Ms. Shelby Hicks, Mr. Raul Rivera, and Dr. Tau Dang. “This school prepared us for life,” Montesflores emphasized. 

Whether it be  ten years ago or the present; Lamar is a witness to a whirlwind of seasons. 2016 nostalgia is not just a collection of filtered trends; it was graphic tees under uniforms, Snapchat streaks before third period, and Pokémon Go at lunch. It is youth imprinted on the floors you currently walk on. O’Tool and Montesflores see 2016 with a clearer perspective, “You don’t realize you’re living in the good old days until they’re gone.” 

Their 2016 is our 2026, live today while we’re all young, outgoing, and free.