- Published: September 30, 2022
- Updated: September 30, 2022
- University / College: University of Oregon
- Level: Secondary School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 30
Perception of Childhood Events Many people tend to remember major events that occurred in their childhood but tragic events always take precedence. However, as much as people tend to remember the events that happened in their childhood, their views and perception in adulthood of those particular events may be different compared to those they had when they were children (Cassidy 5). This is because certain events that manifest in an individual’s life, when they grow up, they may influence and change the line of thinking from the basic and direct view of things as child to a more comprehensive understanding of the events that actually transpired.
It was a chilly morning and mom had woken me up early as usual to get ready for school. Just like any other ordinary day, I dreaded school and literally dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. I was no special kid, I disliked the early mornings and the thought of seeing my class teacher for the umpteenth time did not make my mornings any better. I came from an ordinary family with both my parents working the usual 9 AM to 5 PM jobs. We were not well off and neither of my parents owned a car. I got used to walking to school every morning on the long lonely stretch from our house. On certain lucky mornings, I would bump into other children going to school and I would have someone to keep me company. On this particular morning, the turn of events was pretty much the usual and after a hearty breakfast, I bid my parents goodbye and embarked on my long walk to school.
As usual I was alone on that lonely stretch that passed through a series of abandoned buildings that were yet to be demolished. This morning turned out to be somewhat different when I heard loud voices shouting from one of the buildings. Curiosity got the better of me and I went to see what was happening despite several warnings from my mother to keep off those abandoned buildings. I got there just in time to witness a man being gunned down by two me who were in suits. I was petrified and as I turned to run, one of the men saw me and came after me. I was scared and I hid in one of the old kitchen lockers where I used to play before my mother restricted me from playing in the abandoned houses. I shook with fear and when I could hear no more voices, I crept out and ran all the way to school shaken to the core.
As a child, I knew I had seen someone being shot and he fell to the ground but I did not actually feel the weight of the matter. I had only seen such incidences in the movies I watched. As much as I was scared it did not occur to me that I was a witness to a crime. Looking back at that situation and extrapolating it to adulthood my impressions of the scene are different. My thought process differs in that, as an adult I would have handled the situation differently. I would have filed a report with the relevant authorities and provided a description of the perpetrators instead of staying quiet like I did.
Reference
Cassidy, Claire. Thinking Children: Investigating the Concept of Child. London: Continuum, 2009. Print.