Role memory plays in making you the person that you are
Numerous studies show a human being’s memory is increased as a result of quite strong emotional stimulus. But only memories that are really important remain, while some less important memories vanish. With time, memories that are connected with strong emotional stimuli either remain as they are or improve. On the other hand, those that are connected with neutral stimuli diminish.
What is more, human beings are able to retrieve memories without difficulty when in some emotional state especially one that was in play when the particular memory was being shaped. Consequently, strong memories can be said to be a creation of strong emotions (Figas 28). Of course, any person has his/her own personal experience which can prove such statement.
My Personal Experience
Just the other day on my way to college, I passed by a young teenage girl by the college gate and she looked wasted, her clothes were torn and dirty and she was sleeping on the bench. As I was passing by her, I looked at her. In fact, I actually gazed but then immediately left for the lesson. “I am late”, I said to myself. My schedule is tight with no free time available as I have to work really hard, organize my club meetings. I did notice that nowadays I do not get much time to be with friends as compared to some years back.
Each day I have to show up at college at exactly eight in the morning and leave at around six in the evening. As for me, I like my life right now. It does not matter that I have now become a kind of a bookworm. I love the fact that I am busy and my life is back straight, at least, it is normal.
Catherine, my classmate and group member, walks into the discussion room at around eight thirty and reminds me of a discussion I am supposed to lead and present before the class (it is about the group findings). I change my sitting position. I look outside the library window and the girl I saw in the morning attracts my attention again.
She is still sleeping on the bench – the view from the library. That is when I remember having the same kind of view about ten years ago, but that time the girl sleeping on the bench was someone I knew. Sherry was her name, I always thought the name was beautiful and simple “rest her soul in eternal peace”, I whisper these words every time I get to think of her.
I have known Sherry for ages. We grew up together and we were best friends. Sherry was kind, respectful, responsible, and very cheerful. We spent much time together. We were at the same class. She loved everything about school but the last years of high school changed many nice girls, and, unfortunately, Sherry did not become an exception. I am partly blaming myself for what had happened to her. I could have influenced her, but I wasted my chance to save her.
Actually, the approaching college years (years of freedom) told upon me as well. We went to parties and clubs, though we did not drop our study. Once I offered Sherry to come with me to a loud party of guys from our class. I knew they had really bad reputation but the whole class was there. Sherry met a college student, Mike, at the party. He was a friend of one of the bad boys of our class. However, Sherry did not mind the reputation of the boy who she fell in love with.
Unfortunately, that Mike also liked Sherry so they started dating. Of course, she did not spend time with me now. She was trying to be with him whenever she had the opportunity. This is the point where her life changed and soon her grades begun to drop drastically owing to the fact that Mike introduced her to alcohol and even some drugs. Of course, she did not have enough time for school work. I saw that horrible changed and tried to save her.
I tried to convince Sherry that the kind of life she led will not do good to her. However, she would not listen to me. More so, she started avoiding me. I believe this is the natural reaction of a teenager who thinks he/she is being oppressed. Eventually, I gave in. I thought that Sherry is a grown-up person who would understand the mistakes she had done and would return to her family and her true friend.
Besides, her mother noticed the drop in her grades in her report and started interfering in Sherry’s life. Her mother even tried to stop her relationship with Mike. Perhaps, it was too late since even though Sherry seemed to return to the normal life, she did not stop the relationships with Mike. All was quite good for some time and no one was expecting the terrible events which took place a bit later.
Ironically, it was he who terminated their affair. I found out about it later when it was quite late. Sherry did not come to me to share her sorrow, but started seeing other boys. She thought it would make Mike jealous and he will come back to her. Instead, Sherry became one of those girls who did not spend nights at home and could be missing for several days.
One morning as I was walking to the bus stop, and I saw someone sleeping on the bench besides the bus stop. As I drew closer I noticed it was Sherry and I assumed that she drank too much last night. I went closer to wake her up and take her home. She was unconscious. Of course, I immediately called 911 and her parents. Fortunately, it was not too late and she was saved. However, that was only the beginning of Sherry and her family’s hardships. She could not forgive me for betray – she thought I should not call her parents.
Sherry stopped communicating with me. She made several attempts to commit suicide and had to spend several months in hospital. Eventually, her parents moved to another city, so that she could forget about everything and start her life again. I heard that she is ok now and she is even going to enter a college next year.
However, she lost almost two years of her life. Thus, the drugs took away my best friend from me. Unfortunately, my friend is not the only example; such experiences recur from generation to generation. “It is nine already: time for the meeting”, Catherine reminds me. I only whispered again “may her soul rest in eternal peace”.
The relationship between memory and perception is paradoxical
Humans do recognize their surroundings by memorizing names, comprehending them and recognizing the environment around them. Being able to remember things, starts with the ability to perceive them and attach characteristics to them that will enable one to remember. Human beings have a tendency to recall and remember things that profoundly affect them on an emotional level. Studies show that emotions are vital for memory, and that they are more important than the events that create them.
The effect of a condition on the emotions of people may make them decide to remember or forget events that take place straight away, previous to or subsequent to the event. In my case, it is hard for me to forget and move on. It is a painful memory since I am partially responsible for Sherry. However, I do not forget about Sherry and her misfortune.
This memory will help me to save lives in future since now I know that people need support. Now I understand that people are never adult enough to cope with difficulties on their own, so friends are to help each other. Even it can hurt somebody one should make his friend be responsible. Moreover, now it seems to be that Sherry was not offended by my interference. She must have blamed me for not helping her when it all only was starting.
Works Cited
Figas, Jacqueline. The Aging Client and Long-Term Care. Toronto: CCH Canadian Limited, 2008. Print.