I remember the fearful sound of my mom’s voice on the day of my first swim meet.
I remember my dad’s worn out red jeep.
I remember the smell of my grandparent’s warm, sweet empanadas.
I remember going to Pakistan and my dad bring a monkey home.
I remember the way my grandma would run away from me because I would throw avocados at her.
I remember my stepdad using the tip of a pocket knife to gently dig out my first splinter.
I remember how my mom cried.
I remember the color of my room, a very beige plain color.
I remember when I was told to wear scarf.
I remember learning sign language.
I remember how I always wanted to go out of state.
I remember the sound of the first note of music from when I saw my favorite band play.
I remember the feeling when my parents got divorced.
I remember when my sister was hit by a car and it looked like she flew.
I remember the moment when I knew I looked different from my all friends.
I remember the taste of fresh snow.
I remember when I got my first pair of Jordans.
I remember the way concrete would rub my knees raw and stinging when I fell off my bike.
I remember the soft tangerine light in the alley behind the apartment.
I remember fighting my teddy bear.
I remember the time I fell at a slippery sidewalk to the snow...in front of my crush.
I remember the smell of my grandma’s cooking.
I remember how fascinated I was when I came to America.
I remember the color of his deep deep blue eyes.
I remember the way cheering and gunsmoke would make my throat feel like sandpaper at every track meet.
I remember the sound of my sister playing violin.
I remember my beautiful blue eyed dalmatian.
I remember sunsets where it looked like the sky was bleeding into the water.
I remember the rush of excitement I felt on my first time on Raging Bull.
I remember the feeling of when I won my talent show playing piano.
I remember my first concert at Warped Tour and the amazing environment.
I remember the birth of my kittens.
I remember the color of my first chupa.
I remember skating for the first time.
I remember my guinea pig named Fluffy.
I remember how much makeup I love.
I remember the sound from upstairs to the basement.
I remember my house on fire.
I remember the sunny glow of pride whenever I won a race.
I remember freshman year of highschool as one of the best years of my life.
I remember when I was nearly kidnapped and luckily my friend Emmanuel saved me.
I remember the first game system I got for my birthday was a Game Cube.
I remember the moment I knew I wasn’t a scared child.
I remember the way I looked at my insecurities.
I remember the condescending face of the woman leading my first therapy session.
I remember the way my dog looked up at us when she realized she was coming home.
I remember the smell of his Granma’s house.
I remember buying my first pair of Docs (Doc Martins).
I remember the color I dyed my hair even though I loved my original hair color.
I remember my mother’s I love you’s after every argument.
I remember throwing a paper airplane at my 8th grade teacher.
I remember the feeling of hot chocolate running down my throat after coming in from the cold winter night.
I remember the feeling when I finally told everyone.
I remember riding an elephant.
I remember the way my mom would smile at me.
I remember the taste of my dad’s spaghetti.
I remember having an allergic reaction.
I remember dancing in the streets while everyone watched me.
I remember the tough times that made me who I am today.
I remember the moment I knew I wasn’t normal.
I remember the feeling of my heart beat racing after a scare.
I remember the sleepless nights from overthinking too much.
I remember loving a good thunderstorm.
I remember the feeling of my mother’s van running over our puppy.
I remember how much my grandmother suffered until she died.
I remember the feeling of hate when I met my stepdad for the first time.
I remember the way my family was rowdy!
I remember eating sour cherry pie made from the small tree in my front yard.
From the 826CHI Student Publication: Compendium Volume 6