How do we remember the past? This question is key when it comes to history. Like, obviously.

The first past we’re looking at is apparently our own. At first, I thought this was kind of redundant. You know…I’m 18. Nothing that interesting has happened to me yet. Although I realized that we didn’t have to write the biography for the most interesting person in the world, we just had to come up with what about our history matters to us.

We had to come up with four events and present them visually. Not going to lie, it took me a LONG time to figure out how I was going to present these. Although the way I ultimately chose may look…like kinda weird. I like it, although I’m not sure everyone will. I went for a scrapbook style, and it looks messy, and kind of unfinished. I did it this way because I think that better represents how a memory feels than a bunch of typed text.

What I did to create these memory card things was kind of complicated but actually not at all. First I would write what I wanted to say, headlines, and drawings on blank paper with sharpies. Then, I would scan what I had written on to my computer. Then I would proceed to send those scans to my iPad, where I would make the writing transparent without any backgrounds or borders. I would then send it back to my computer, where the photos were (some of which I had to scan in as well), and overlay the text on the images until everything fit properly.

This is how that turned out, and a little bit about why I chose each memory.

First: My Birth.

Well, I chose this one because it was mandatory, but I think it actually has a kind of interesting story behind it…or maybe not but it happened either way. I was a pretty cool baby, though. I went to Vegas three weeks later and got turnt. Just kidding.

I still haven’t got a clear answer as to why my mother took a 3 week old baby to Vegas.

Second: The Day I Broke My Leg.

So, I wasn’t thinking about doing this memory until I asked my sister if she would record an interview about the day I was born, and she suggested she do this day instead because she thought it was funny that she got to eat ice cream and pizza while I was in the hospital. I obviously don’t have photos from the day I actually broke my leg, but I have a lot of me with that bright yellow cast. Breaking my leg really did change me, so I do think it’s a good defining memory about myself. I wasn’t allowed to play for an entire summer because of that broken leg, and it has made me a less active person. Before I broke it, I loved running around, but because I spent 8 weeks getting in trouble when I did it, that love faded. If I could go back and change that day…I honestly probably would.

Third: The Day We Got Baden.

This one was a no brainer for me. My dog, Baden, changed everything in my household. The family dynamic was altered by this tyrant, but it was me who was ultimately changed by this dog. He was an untrainable anxious mess but I spent his whole life taking his side even when I shouldn’t have. Having Baden put me through a lot but I also learned a lot. What I really learned from this dog was what it means to love something for more than it’s worth, and that illogical love will sometimes make you fight a battle that you will never win.

Lastly: My First Trip To Disney World.

I know, I know. This one is kind of…really? But I really did go on this trip sobbing like a five year old because I was really scared of the rides. To me, this marks the first time I would fight one of my fears and win. That’s important for me, cause I had a lot of fears coming later that I never would have suspected. Sure, I didn’t go on every roller coaster, but I went on enough that when I went to Disneyland a year later, I was able to go on everything (except Tower of Terror, that one would take a few more years).

My “podcast” is um…a loose interpretation of a podcast. Honestly, I’m not sure if this counts but I decided that I’m going to take the risk of handing this in, mostly because I won’t be able to take academic risks next year…so like, why not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z4ygVSbsQk

(it did kind of take awhile).