Reconnecting with an old friend...

I have a friend who lives down the street whose a couple of years older than me and we always went to the same school since grade school. We became closer in middle school from taking the bus and walking home together and high school we'd carpool junior/senior year. I used to like him..a lot. My mom and his dad are friends and they talk about us and one night his dad mentioned how we used to like each other but I had no idea he liked me at all. Since graduating high school we've lost touch but I'll see him now and then driving up the street and he'll always wave and yell my name. I was thinking of reaching out to reconnect; to become friends again but don't want to be awkward about it. I'm in cosmetology school and am always looking for people to come to my school so I can practice so I thought that might be a good icebreaker. Idk..