Do People Truly Never Forget How You Made Them Feel?

When Theresa writes non-fiction, it is always somehow related to an event or something that touched her personal life in some manner.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

— Maya Angelou

Elementary, My Dear, Girl with the Crooked Smile

A Toothless Smile (Where's a Hairbrush?)

My Little Experiment via Elementary School Years

The other day I was thinking about my elementary school years. When I thought back from Kindergarten to the Sixth Grade, I was only able to remember certain memories. I thought of the famous quote referenced above by Maya Angelou.

These thoughts bring to my mind the question of whether certain memories are more vivid than others solely due to how others made us feel, or perhaps a mixture of the environment in which we were at the time, coupled with the people there.

As a result of these thoughts, I conducted my own little experiment based on my memories of elementary school years. As the decades have passed, I realize my memories are fewer than several decades ago. Therefore, it is plausible to note that these few memories I do have left lend themselves to either support or disprove Maya Angelou's quote.

Internal Dialogue

I thought I'd approach the retelling of whatever memories I have of a certain school year by using internal dialogue in lieu of just writing what my memories were of a particular school year.

My Kindergarten Class at Eastway Elementary School

My Thoughts upon Arriving at My Kindergarten Class

I hope Mama doesn't let go of my hand. I don't want to go in there. There's too much noise. The lights are so bright. Where did all of these little kids come from and who are they? Oh, there's Jimmy Johnson and Andy McCook from my neighborhood. Yuck!

Who is that lady coming over here? She talks soft and is nice. I guess I can go in for a little bit. Maybe it will be okay to let go of Mama's hand.

What do I do now? There are so many toys. I do like that big pink stove.

Oh, good, it's time for milk and a snack. These are big tables. I like those pictures on the wall. Wow, those are the biggest windows I've ever seen. I think I will just look out the windows.

Oh, boy, it's time to go out to the playground and swing. Wait! I can't go down that big hill to get to the swings. No, no, no! I'm too scared.

Fast Forward to the School Fall Festival

I hope I win that big chocolate cake. The music is starting. Around and around we go in this big circle. Oh, the music stopped. I won? Yippie, I can't wait to get home to eat this yummy chocolate cake! There's Mama smiling at me. I know she loves chocolate too.

Conclusion Reached

Obviously, whatever my Kindergarten teacher said to me made me feel less apprehensive about entering the classroom.

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Wynnton Arts Academy, formerly named Wynnton Academy, according to Muscogee County records, is the oldest continuously used school in Georgia, and among the oldest in the country. I was bused all the way across town in the First Grade, despite the fact Eastway Elementary school is located not too far from my then neighborhood. Wynnton Academy is located in the historic part of my home town. I can't complain though, for I was blessed to attend such a fine school. Sadly, however, the historic Wynnton area is now remembered for the brutal murders of elderly women in the late 70s by "The Stocking Strangler."

Southern Magnolia