Task:

I Remember When
I dont remember much about when I was born, cause I was so young at the time.
~ Whoopie Goldberg

Humans remember events for positive and negative reasons, and sometimes we create a memory for reasons we dont
understand and cannot begin to grasp in the moment. Here are some key spots to consider, and may be they will spark
specific memories maybe not. Lets see.
Here are the prompts to trigger memories. Go through each and respond with what you can recall, even if only vaguely.
A few sentences apiece should suffice, unless you discover a prompt suddenly sparks the need for self-therapy and you
need to pour out oodles of information.
1. What is the first book or story you recall someone reading to you? What was the circumstance? For example, maybe
the memory is about Mom reading you the Sunday morning comics while you both sat in bed, under the covers and
stayed warm. Maybe it was your brother, reading you a comic book while you were in the hospital after surgery. Read the
prompt and close your eyes and think about it, seriously think.
The first book I remember someone reading to me was Goodnight Moon by my mom. We were sitting in my bed
after a long day of her working and me being in pre-school. I remember my big bed with the yellow comforter and
us leaning against the backboard sharing this special time together like we had most nights I was young.
2. Again, here is a prompt read it, close your eyes and think about what the response should be. What is the first thing
you remember reading on your own, either to yourself or to someone else? Tell me what it was and how you felt.
The first thing I remember reading on my own was the Junie B. Jones chapter book series. Those were my
favorite because the beginning of the book always started the same way of her introducing herself and the stories
would be similar things I would do when I was in kindergarten and first grade. Those books made me so excited
and I am even getting excited now reminiscing.
3. What was the last book you were assigned to read in high school? What was it, and what was your reaction?
The last book I read in high school was 1984. This book is very interesting the main character, Winston was once
and independent character who then formed into the person he did not want to be through the transition of his
government controlling the people. My reaction was surprised because I thought that Winston was going to be
able to escape the world like he wanted to.
4. What is your earliest memory of being in the car and hearing a song on the radio (or whatever your parents listened to
as they drove around)? What was playing? What do you remember about the overall experience of being in the car did
you always sit in the back, with music playing, or news, or sermons? Was there a common experience? If there wasnt
media playing, maybe it was a CD or DVD playing, or maybe only people talking. Tell me about your earliest experience
in the car, and how frequent the experience was.
My earliest memory of being in the car was probably around age 7 when my cousins and I were on the way home
from a swim meet. My mom and aunt were playing the song Aint no mountain high enough. From this
experience I remember my cousins and I making hand motions to all the words and rolling down the windows so
that we could scream it outside. I remember sitting next to my oldest cousin, Alexa because we grew up as best
friends and one of my sisters was beside me with my other two cousins and my other sister in the back.
5. What was the first music piece you bought (or otherwise procured) for yourself? What was it? Why? What do you
recall about it most?
The first music piece I bought was a recorder for my third grade music class. It was mandatory to purchase so
that the whole grade could learn how to read and play music. I recall playing row, row, row your boat synchronized
with the whole class. (Although it was not synchronized at all)
6. What was your favorite television show, going as far back as you can recall? Why did you like it? Would you still
watch it now? (Maybe you watch it as a guilty pleasure, in secret.)
My favorite television show was Lizzie McGuire when I was in the second grade. I liked it because it was high

school drama and I thought the characters were all so cool. I secretly wanted to be Lizzie, I remember even
getting a game for my little Nintendo and playing it all the time.
7. What is the earliest experience you have with a parent (or grandparent or other) trying to teach you an activity? Who
was it? What was the activity? How successful was the teaching attempt? I know for certain a friend was taught to
shoot by his father, but he was taught how to shoot well by his grandfather and uncle.
The earliest experience Ive had with a grandparent trying to reach me an activity is my Dads mom that I call
Mema. I remember when I was younger she always tried teaching me how to make origami frogs and swans. That
was her favorite part about spending time with us. I remember sitting around the table for hours trying to imitate
her folds. She was successful at teaching this activity to me and all my cousins but after I learned I could never
remember the folds.
8. What was the first time you tried to teach someone else to perform a task? Who was it? What was the task? How
smoothly did the experience go?
The first time I tried to teach someone a task was when I taught my sister how to hold a spoon because she
wanted to feed herself. The experience went well because she had been watching my parents and I perform the
task very often.
9. What do you recall as the first major failure you experienced? What were you doing? What was the circumstance?
What did you take away from the experience how did it change you, if at all?
My first major failure I experienced was in third grade when I failed a science quiz. I remember from that
experience that I was scared to show my mom my grades because I wanted her to be proud of me and I was
disappointed that I had failed.
10. What do you recall as your first major success? What were you doing? What was the circumstance? What did you
take away from the experience how did it change you, if at all?
My first major success was making my first travel team in third grade. From this experience I learned about a
team and how to be a part of one.