Assignment 2

For a majority of people, their earliest childhood memory is nothing more than a fragment of something that happened when they were three to four years old. This fragment in some way, shape, or form must have been important in some way if it was the one memory remembered out of the countless number hidden away in the deep trenches of the mind. My mind seems to have chosen the fragment of a memory from when I was about three or four, yet, I cannot absolutely guarantee if this is correct. I may have been a year or two older or perhaps even a year younger. In fact, I have a number of memories from my adolescence that according to my parents and those who were close to me at the time I remembered incorrectly. These memories felt so authentic and substantial it was difficult for me to recognize that they were not necessarily true. Despite this, I have come to realize that I do have one memory that I know is true, that is backed up by film, eyewitness accounts, and record keeping. This memory, as fragmented as it might be is a story fit for the ages. It portrays images of hard work, of glory, of cunning adaptability and of victory.

It began on a cloudy Saturday morning, and I was running. The rain from the night before had made the grass beneath my feet wet and slick. I had fallen multiple times on this surface and my clothes were stained and muddy. I continued to strain. Where was I running too? How far had I run today? I stopped. Took in my surroundings. What am I searching for? Then I saw it. In all its splendor. Surrounded by a group of kids my own age in blue and yellow jerseys. They kicked at it relentlessly. It never moved, it appeared stuck in time, cemented to the ground. Then Thomas came, the biggest kid I had ever seen. Wear...

... middle of paper ...

...re, cultural experiences also can have an influential impact on a person’s earliest memory. According to sociocultural theorists different cultures tend to create different childhood environments. These environments are of vital importance in regards to one’s own memories. Cultural differences in the recalling of early childhood memories can be best observed by looking at eastern and western cultures. As a child growing up in the United States, I believe that my earliest memory differs from someone that may have grown up in Japan. My memory is probably more emotionally detailed and self-oriented then that of those of eastern decent whose cultures tend to focus less on individual emotions and are more group oriented. Different upbringing practices by different cultures can thus, have an important influence on the impact of infantile amnesia and ones earliest memory.