Undergraduate / "the memories of my childhood" - UC Personal; Describe the world you come from. [4]

Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Here is what I have

I come from a world where memories are just memories until I take the time to make them the reality that laid the foundation of who I am today. Whether those memories are something to be cherished or to be better off left collecting dust underneath my bed, there is no denying that the memories of my childhood had an impact on my world and ultimately made me who I am today.

Just the other day, as I was sitting cross-legged on my bed, I was going through old photographs. As I flipped through one photograph after another, I began to retain information about the memories that lay before me. About how they weren't memories at the time but my life. I was amazed at how those glossy 4" x 5" pieces of paper could bring back so much to me.

I came across a picture of me, my sister, and my two brothers sitting on a beautiful beach on the Big Island of Hawaii back in year 2002.

Now, I have always had a love for the water and aquatic animals. Always. I remember sitting on that beach, looking out at the peaceful waves as night time quickly snuck upon us.

This memory, as simple as it may seem, has been a huge impact on who I am and has helped shape my dreams.
Although I'm not particularly fond of the salty water itself, I am amazed at what lies under those waves. Millions of species of animals, many still unnamed, live on the ocean floor. The ocean is so close to us and covers so much of this world yet it is still undeniably cryptic to us.

My love for the marine life is well supported by my family. When I was younger, I was always told by my family that one day, I was going to be focusing my life towards marine animals and the conservation of our oceans.

As I continued to reminisce over the photographs that are now strewn across my comforter and collecting in heaps over the edge of my bed, the memories and aspirations of doing something about my love for the ocean life, are one step closer to becoming my reality.