For the most part, I never struggled much with school or work due to forgetfulness. I don't believe I have any severe memory loss issues... But, the older I get and the more conversations I have with other people reminiscing about HS or college, the most I become incredibly aware of how absolutely little I recall from those years. I'm in my 30s now.
Other than a small handful of teacher names and maybe another small handful of general "feelings" I had in certain classes/with certain teachers - I don't remember, like, ANY of my high school teachers. I think back in college, and I barely remember half my classes. I can't recall 90% of my professors. I don't think I can recall more than 1 or 2 professor names, even though I probably had 25 or so over the course of my four years.
I can't remember the vast majority of classmates. I could probably NAME less than 12 people I went to school with. Maybe. I was at a D1 school and had plenty of friends and carried a 30hr a week job.
People I hung out with in my dorm every.single.day in freshman year - classes, projects, our jobs, hanging out the weekend... I don't remember their names. Their voices. I barely remember what they look like outside of the idea of some pictures I think I had on social media a decade ago.
I can't remember shit that I learned. I do fine as an adult. I know basic math and history, and carry a good job - but if you asked me to randomly do ANYTHING from, say, Algebra 2, I'd have to re-learn from scratch. Worst part, I don't even know if I took an Algebra 2? I had a 4.4GPA (college credit in HS), and couldn't even begin to tell you what advanced math classes I took.
***
This all came bubbling up again right before COVID hit, when I had a chance to hang out with a really good friend - one of my best from HS - who I hadn't seen in person since his wedding about seven years earlier. I can remember some of the really fun stuff we did together - and we commiserated on a couple classes. But then he and his wife started telling stories about things I did, this girl I had a crush on, from their wedding, a supposedly hilarious joke I told at their wedding, a group of friends we used to hang out with - shit, just people in our classes - and I about broke down that night because, no shit, I couldn't remember ANY of it.
My wife that night thought "surely I'm just not thinking clearly or hard enough." I've gone back since on FB and looked up names and I vaguely remember some faces - and go "ohhhh yeah, I remember that person!" ... but I couldn't tell you what classes we had together or any time we ever had, say, a project together. And here's my old buddy telling me we had classes together and projects together and all these great times together.
**
I've TRIED doing some online research, and it says the most common reasons are trauma (none that I'm aware of), depression (maybe? I dunno), or drugs (nah, not me). Some claim sleep deprivation, which I was really low on sleep in my education years - but to this level?
I'm wondering if something is "wrong with me" or it's more common than those around me would make it seem - and if you struggle with this, any commentary or ways to improve?
Other than a small handful of teacher names and maybe another small handful of general "feelings" I had in certain classes/with certain teachers - I don't remember, like, ANY of my high school teachers. I think back in college, and I barely remember half my classes. I can't recall 90% of my professors. I don't think I can recall more than 1 or 2 professor names, even though I probably had 25 or so over the course of my four years.
I can't remember the vast majority of classmates. I could probably NAME less than 12 people I went to school with. Maybe. I was at a D1 school and had plenty of friends and carried a 30hr a week job.
People I hung out with in my dorm every.single.day in freshman year - classes, projects, our jobs, hanging out the weekend... I don't remember their names. Their voices. I barely remember what they look like outside of the idea of some pictures I think I had on social media a decade ago.
I can't remember shit that I learned. I do fine as an adult. I know basic math and history, and carry a good job - but if you asked me to randomly do ANYTHING from, say, Algebra 2, I'd have to re-learn from scratch. Worst part, I don't even know if I took an Algebra 2? I had a 4.4GPA (college credit in HS), and couldn't even begin to tell you what advanced math classes I took.
***
This all came bubbling up again right before COVID hit, when I had a chance to hang out with a really good friend - one of my best from HS - who I hadn't seen in person since his wedding about seven years earlier. I can remember some of the really fun stuff we did together - and we commiserated on a couple classes. But then he and his wife started telling stories about things I did, this girl I had a crush on, from their wedding, a supposedly hilarious joke I told at their wedding, a group of friends we used to hang out with - shit, just people in our classes - and I about broke down that night because, no shit, I couldn't remember ANY of it.
My wife that night thought "surely I'm just not thinking clearly or hard enough." I've gone back since on FB and looked up names and I vaguely remember some faces - and go "ohhhh yeah, I remember that person!" ... but I couldn't tell you what classes we had together or any time we ever had, say, a project together. And here's my old buddy telling me we had classes together and projects together and all these great times together.
**
I've TRIED doing some online research, and it says the most common reasons are trauma (none that I'm aware of), depression (maybe? I dunno), or drugs (nah, not me). Some claim sleep deprivation, which I was really low on sleep in my education years - but to this level?
I'm wondering if something is "wrong with me" or it's more common than those around me would make it seem - and if you struggle with this, any commentary or ways to improve?
