Bringing Up Baby Post 1: How does a person’s childhood experiences affect his or her adult life? Use examples from your own life, other real-life examples, film, text, etc.

My outlook on life has been heavily shaped by past events. In all honesty, I really don't want to share most of my memories - some are uncomfortable, some are sad, and some are silly and a little hard to follow. Here are some memories that have impacted my life (all are VERY different from one another), and why they have done so:

1. Although my first day at HYSA was a pretty big milestone, my favorite milestone-related memory was probably my first pack of baseball cards. I was 7 at the time. I remember ripping open the pack of cards right near my front door, resting with my new puppy. My first cards in my collection actually came from the '90s, but I opened a couple of 2010 packs that day as well. Now I've got, like, 10 binders full of baseball cards, ranging from my grandpa's 1950s cards to modern-day stuff. I remember that one 2010 day so well because it represented a big first in my life.

2. I had my 12th birthday at a laser tag place. I remember everything about that party - the glowing lights, all of my new friends (I had just moved to HYSA a month before), and how excited I felt on the drive over (NOTE - as I write this, I am very surprised that I have ever been excited in Phoenix Open traffic). Additionally, when I was little, birthdays were huge, so that amplified my happiness even more. This memory doesn't have any embedded life lessons, it just is a nostalgic, happy time I can remember whenever I'm in a bad place.

3. A few years ago, I was participating in my first video game tournament - an ASU West Super Smash Bros Tournament. A couple of friends were also participating. One of them was talking to me about character matchups beforehand, and I started absolutely crapping on Link (the main guy from Legend of Zelda). The first round of the tournament, I got swept by a guy playing a certain character... I remember this event for a few reasons. Firstly, it was, in retrospect, pretty funny. Secondly, and more importantly, it taught me to stay humble and keep my mouth shut (until after I win, of course). This one has certainly had the most impact on my life out of the three memories (it changed how I act), but that doesn't mean it's the most valuable.

This post was probably way over, but I just wanted to share the different ways experiences can affect my life, and why I remember them so vividly. Some memories represent unforgettable turning points. Some events are memorable because of the emotions I felt. Some memories stay in my back pocket to remind me of important lessons and how to keep myself in check. Overall, they all have different and profound effects on my life.