Leila Alabed Week 16: Memories of a Lifetime
As the school year begins to come to an end, the way in which we reflect on the year, including the words we use to describe our experiences, shifts. Suddenly, all of the bothersome homework assignments and exams become memories and stories to be told, rather than a burden. These stories will continue to be told as we age, as a means of reconnecting with our younger selves and reminiscing the past.
It is interesting how we think so fondly of those memories, despite being overwhelmed with it all in the actual moment. All-nighter study sessions, rushing to meet deadlines, embarrassing moments, all suddenly become nostalgic as we reflect on our past. Once the actual feelings of pressure and stress subside, we are able to look back and make light of our experiences—creating shared stories and memories.
Language is the key component in this evolution, as the way in which we discuss the past ultimately affects how we remember it. The stressful long nights of studying become our "battle story" in a way, signifying our hard work and dedication, while a bad grade reminds us of the time we had to learn a lesson the hard way. All of these experiences shape the way in which we process these memories by shifting them into a more positive light.
As another school year shortly passes, and we approach our final year of high school, our memories will begin to take shape by the words we choose to describe them, as well as thanks to our shared experiences as peers. Just like any kind of memory, looking back on these experiences will be proof to us of just how much we have grown over these last four years.
Hey Leila, I certainly agree with you how at the end of the year all our hardships and challenges slowly become distant memories as we learn and grow. It is honestly hard to believe as the year comes to a wrap that we are becoming rising seniors. As a kid this was the moment I believed was in the distant future, but now it is right at our feet. As much as we all suffered through high school, all that suffering culminates into more experiences to prepare us for the world. I feel as though when we are in one state we often crave to be in an opposing state, like when it's winter we crave for the summer heat. As much as I am going to miss the rush that was brought along with high school, I am excited for summer break where we can take time to rest and rejuvenate and get ready for the final “battle.” Hopefully, next year is as eventful as this one, with maybe a few less tears, but nonetheless a great year for all. Thank you for sharing your last blog with us!
ReplyDeleteHello, Leila! Your post was quite reminiscent of everything that we have been through throughout this last year and brought back many of the memories of the nights I spent poring over textbooks and cramming for assignments. I completely agree with you in the fact that while, at the time, it may have seemed to be a traumatic experience and one that we would never want to live again, remembering it now does seem ironically quite nostalgic, a feeling that I am sure will only grow over time. I also love the way you put it so pleasantly; all those sleepless nights are indeed just battle stories to be told. Your commentary on twisting what we may consider to be the worst memories of our lives to be something more positive is a truly powerful lesson to be learnt. I have enjoyed reading your blogs all semester and wish you the best of luck in your writing journey!
ReplyDeleteHi Leila. Your post made me think of a mix of different emotions ranging from nostalgia to regret. After hearing for many years about the monstrous junior year it hardly seems real that we are at the end. Although the memories are still too fresh, I am already beginning to let go of the negative emotions associated with them. I doubt I will ever look upon these memories (in an academic sense) fondly, I agree that given time and acceptance they become memories that show our individual history.
ReplyDeleteHello, Leila! I really liked your reflection, and I feel the same way too. It’s so true how the stress and pressure we feel in the moment slowly transform into stories that will become a part of our memories and surely something we will remember for our lives. It just makes me hard to believe that the school year has already ended and we will be senior's next year, and If I am being honest I feel like I just completed sophomore year going into junior. It just has this sad feeling attached to it, mainly because it prompts you to think about your future, and future is scary. Senior year will quickly come to an end, just like this year and in no time we will be graduating, moving on with our lives. I especially liked your point about language shaping how we remember things, and it is amazing how our perspective changes when we are not in the middle of it anymore. Going into our last year of high school I hope we can carry these mindsets of enjoying and appreciating hard moments while they last. Thank you for capturing this feeling!
ReplyDeleteHello Leila! Your reflection on memories truly brings me back to an experience I had in a middle school summer adventure camp, where we were given the option to take one extra hike after a long day of camping, or head back to the base camp and rest up before our final evening. Although some students wanted to explore the new hike, I let my exhaustion get the better of me and voted to return to base camp, which is what we ultimately did. Now that I look back, I do not have a story to tell from that hike. It was an experience I skipped that I will never regain the opportunity to explore. That day I decided that in every instance that I can, I will make a choice to do something rather than not, because in any outcome of that action, I will at least have a story to tell and never fall prey to the path not taken. My entire experience in this class and challenging myself with APENG stems from this promise I made to myself, where I will go through every experience I can to make sure I have stories to tell. I think now that we come to the end of a year, I once again look forward to create more stories with another year of APENG.
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