Suhas Bathini Week 13: Fuzzy Images
Memory is a funny thing. It feels almost unmistakable but it is really just a collection of fuzzy images and experiences.
I've had plenty of moments myself where I was absolutely convinced of remembering something exactly as it happened like where I left my car keys or what chore my mom told me to do. However, it turned out to be completely different from what I remembered and I was completely wrong. Then a sudden realization breaks through and I scold myself for forgetting. It is a reminder that our brains really aren't as reliable as we think they are.
This is especially true for schoolwork. In junior high, I found myself increasingly forgetting about assignments and even though there were little consequences back in 8th grade, I knew it would only get worse as high school began. It pushed me to a system to keep myself organized. As a result, I have been trying to write everything down into a to-do list. Although fancy calendars and schedules work for others, I find them to be too much work to maintain and a simple to-do list suffices for me. As a result of the list, I rarely forget about assignments.
Writing things down helps to retain information better so it not only is a place to view the information for later but it also helps me remember it better even without looking at the list. The same principle is why I have started writing all the definitions for the vocabulary words on paper to help with memorization.
Memory isn't something that should be relied on blindly and really the best way to remember something is to not trust your memory and simply write it down.
Hi Suhas,
ReplyDeleteI wrote a similar blog on if we can trust our memories, and I wanted to read about what you had to say about the same topic. I like how you use personal experiences in order to highlight why memory loss or issues arise with one’s memory. I have encountered similar situations where I just forget about assignments and end up with late assignments or rushing them last minute. I also like how you make this more about yourself and about your personal experiences as this concept is intended to be addressed this way. On a side note, I will be stealing that vocabulary memorization technique as I have also found that when I say the definition out loud and write it down, I am able to remember that word even better and more clearly on the test. It is the same reason why I listen to the audiobook and read the books in this class. Overall, I had a great time looking at the same idea from another and unique perspective and the words that memory shouldn’t be relied on will resonate with me.
-Krish
Hey Suhas!
ReplyDeleteI just finished replying to Krish’s blog, and it was kind of similar to yours. There are many times where my memory is made up of mostly emotions rather than what specifically happened. I relate to your second paragraph about forgetting and then remembering right when it happened. I haven’t forgotten things that much recently but I did a while ago and it was frustrating because right when someone would tell me something and I was doing something else, I would immediately forget it and scold myself. I think that writing things down would really help people in not forgetting what to do and help their organization skills. I should definitely do that too but I keep feeling too lazy to write down a list of things I need to do. Maybe I’ll do it this week! Thanks for sharing!
-Colin
Hi Suhas! I entirely agree with the fact that memory is “unreliable,” as you put it. I definitely relate to the act of simply forgetting an important task or assignment that I told myself I would remember but end up forgetting instead. Like you, I too utilize to-do lists to help me keep track of my numerous duties and chores throughout the day, so much so that the to-do list on my phone is neatly organized into sections of school, extracurriculars, hobbies, and chores and then subsections after that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the scholarly aspect of forgetting, I remember (ironic, isn’t it?) one of our Persons of American Significance visitors mentioned something about the Feynman technique to remember things. Needless to say, I have started utilizing it in chemistry, learning concepts before teaching them back to my lab group in a discussion, and–to my reluctant surprise–it works.
On a closing note, this blog was quite relatable and a refreshing read.
Hey Suhas! I definitely relate to this phenomenon of not being able to rely on memory. If I simply read a book, I find that I remember so many more details of scenes throughout the book than I do when I’m studying for a reading quiz, trying to cram any and all information into my head. I’ll study every event in the book but when the time comes all I can visualize is a fuzzy page from an unknown chapter number. I’ll remember the details of a story a friend told me once months ago with extreme clarity, yet if someone asked me if I remember the verbal instructions to an assignment–you know, the things that are meant to be actively committed to memory–I would draw up blank and would have to profusely apologize for it. As a result, I’ve also started physically writing more things down, like you. I’ve started taking my notes in blue pen because I’ve heard multiple times that it helps with memory(the jury’s still out on that one for me, though). Your blog made me wonder if stress is a factor in remembering, as remembering things such as school work during a busy six-period day is probably going to be more difficult than being present and absorbing the information in the moment. I agree with you though, that I need to start writing more things down instead of hoping that I suddenly develop a photographic memory of the whiteboard with the homework written on it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Suhas,
ReplyDeleteI thought that your blog post about the confusion and “fuzzy” nature of memories was really interesting. I definitely find this idea relatable, because I often find myself searching through my mind for what I did a certain day just to have a very fuzzy or vague recollection of the events. This can be extremely frustrating sometimes due to there being important details that I have to recall, but being unfortunately unable to do so. However, like you mentioned in your blog article, there are many ways we can combat that. I got more organized, especially this year when I began to use a piece of paper and/or a sheet in a notebook to jot down the tasks I have to do later in the day. It includes three categories corresponding to three different priority levels. The first priority is stuff that I have to get done that day, no exceptions. The second priority is stuff that I probably should get done, and that would take stress off later to get done, but if I don’t have time then it’s okay to postpone it for a little bit; it is quite an ambiguous category yet I feel that it helps me stay organized and not get overwhelmed. The last category is for stuff that is due in a long time and/or has less importance. I only do stuff in this category if I finish stuff in the first two, unless there is some kind of exception.
-Ritwik