Is it just a part of aging?

Is it normal not to remember any details about when you were in school? This past week I've been looking at the scrapbook that I made a long time ago - apparently I won a lot of things back then like science fairs, poster contests, and young author contests. I don't remember this stuff. In middle school I received awards for being the top student in three of my classes, I don't remember that either. I only remember bits and pieces of my junior and senior yrs. of high school - I mostly just remember I was miserable. I looked at my college transcripts and realized I had more credits than I remembered plus there was a bunch of classes that I can't remember anything about. It's so weird, if I didn't have the proof I would never have believed it. Is everybody like this?

Actually, there's a lot of my school years that I don't remember. I don't know if it's normal, but you're not alone.

There's a lot about school I don't remember. I tend to just remembe significant events or things that I was really passionate about. For example, I couldn't tell you much about what was going on in school from the time I was 11-14, but I could tell you all about what music I was studying, the band I played in, where I performed, that kind of stuff.

Similarly I don't remember much about high school, beyond being part of the debating team which I loved. And my strongest memories of university are again not the classes but being on the debating team and in student government, but even there I couldn't tell you everything that happenned.

I think it's normal to not remember lots of details about the past.

--splitimage

I was a lousy student, strugged terribly with school since 3rd grade. Couldn't (still can't) comprehend. I was always falling behind. I remember the struggle..yet, when I think of school I can't help but to think of the happy times. Sure, I remember the hardhsips (Catholic Elememtary throughout the 60'...says something right there...lol)....But the "thought" of school returns to me the fun things.(Maybe I just refuse to allow the struggle to have more importance..dunno).

I don't think it's so much as 'aging' itself. I think it has more to do with what had more the effect at that time?...therefore it is what is consciously remembered?
Usually, photos trigger memories. But, I've also discovered some pics just isn't enough to trigger that specific memory to which the picture pertains.

I think that goes for everyone....I'm really not sure.

Shangrala

Hmm... I don't remember much from the time my mom passed until my present husband and I split up about 14 yrs ago. It was really a hard, painful time for me. My husband and kids remember a whole lot more than I remember of those days.

School was also very painful for me. I remember the bad times and don't remember any good times. However, I remember things that happened out of school during those years.

We tend to block the painful times of our lives. Maybe that's what happened to you. Just a thought.

You're not so "old" that you would start forgetting those things. They're pretty significant in anyone's life.

Frankly, I don't know how people who write their autobiographies remember so much! I would have to do a lot of hair-pulling to figure out how to put my memories in order and into a cohesive story!

Makes me think along the line of time continuum...

Is it only me, or have you ever noticed how, when we were kids in elementary the summer vacations seemed to fly by. And now that we're the parents, the vacations seem to drag on & on & on?

LOL.....just a random thought.

Shangrala

My husband is like that knothead. I remember every place I've worked and nearly everyone I've worked with in the past 30 years (although that leaves little room for new memories). When something happens that reminds me of something from the past I'll say "hey remember Jim such and such from X corp?" Hubby has no clue. He has no memory of anyone or anything that is not current. Fountain of useless trivia but if you've worked with him,think of him as a work friend/sometime social companion and you run into him around town a few months later he would look you straight in the eye and tell you he has no clue who you are.

The older we get the more of our past memories our brain has to let go of to make room.
I have a horrible short term memory - but give me a few weeks and I'll be able to remember what I couldn't today.

Omg!...I'm so there as well......
It's like....."check with me inna few days about what I mean now".....lol.
Frustrating.....but, at the same time..I find humor in it as well...have to, otherwise I just might depress myself....more...lol.

Shangrala

Haha, there are parts of last week I don't remember, no less third grade. Start to worry when you don't remember whose president.

Hi Knot

When I was in college taking a children's literature course, I felt like I was the only person in the class that couldn't remember children story books/novels that were read to me as a child (or that I read). I sat there and was so concerned because so many ppl in the class were going on about the literature in their childhood that they experienced and half of the titles and authors I had never heard of. So, I spoke to my former psychiatrist at the time about not remembering literature from my childhood and he said it is normal for many ppl not to remember certain things or aspect of their youth. I felt much better after our chat.