Reflections on A Childhood Gone By

7th grader Mendok Gurung reflects on her childhood filled with magical innocence and the contrast between then and now as a middle schooler. 

Close your eyes and remember how you grew up. Without any childhood memories what would you grow up to be? What would you grow up to be without watching the things you watched when you were young? Childhood memories are one big important part of my life. You see, I grew up watching the show Curious George. And from there, I learned that it's okay to make mistakes. But do I feel that way now, do I still forgive myself when I make mistakes? Elmo, from Sesame Street is where I learned to feel seen, and heard, and that everyone should treat each other with nothing but kindness. Is this even possible to happen now? Sofia the First is the princess who taught me that everyone should tell each other the truth. But if everyone should tell the truth why is that I get lied to in and get hurt from the lies?

 How could you know how happy you were then, as an innocent child compared to how you feel now? Childhood was a great time–a time when you thought the world was, literally, the best place in the whole world. We believed in tooth fairies, Santa Claus, fairy godmothers, and talking puppets, but they were all just a dream. It was a time when a single dollar felt like a treasure, enough to buy a small toy or a small treat.The simplest things brought so much joy. A candy bar… playing outside with friends… or simply reading a book. Now we wake up knowing all those magical moments were just fairytales.

Childhood memories aren’t just the shows we watched on our TV screens. My earliest memories are filled with the comforting scent of my mom’s baking. Warm sel roti (Nepali bread)  fills my nostrils from the hallway as I enter my home after coming back from school. And of the freshly steaming soup dumpling, aromas fill the air and taste buds begin to tingle from memory.The kitchen wasn’t just for cooking, it was alive, filled with her stories, stories of laughter and warmness. 

Open your eyes now! One year at a time made me realize a lot of things growing up, things like “Just because people call you their friend it doesn't mean they're gonna treat you like one” and “Family comes before anyone.” During my childhood, I never had to worry about not being chosen. My fears were simple: heights from roller coasters, the dark, getting scolded for something small. Years went by and now it's the complete opposite, I enjoy going on roller coasters, and prefer the dark, now. Fears I have now are things like losing someone I truly love, not being picked, grades dropping, not making my family proud, etc. It's bittersweet to look back at my childhood knowing things will never be the same. Back when I would wake up for school knowing it's another play day. Now, those mornings feel like the start of yet another stressful day at school. 

Looking back, childhood feels like a treasure chest filled with innocence, warmth, and wonder—a time when life was simple and joy was found in the smallest things. Those memories, from the shows I watched, the lessons I learned, or scents that filled my home, shape who I am today. Even as the magic of my childhood fades into the realities of today, its memories remain with me, in the traditions I uphold, and the dreams I will chase. Maybe, even though the innocence of childhood may never return, I can still hold onto its lessons— to find joy in simple things, to forgive, and to keep kindness at the heart of everything we do.