Top 10: A 2024 memory we want to forget – and why
Readers share a moment from last year that they would love to erase from memory.
If given the choice, what would you want to forget? Photo: ShutterstockThis week’s question: “What is one goal you plan to achieve in the first month of 2025?” To take part, drop us a line via this form or email us at [email protected] by 12pm on Wednesday, January 8. Tell us your name, age and school.
Angie Tam, 13, St Paul’s Convent School: Being betrayed by my friends. At the start of 2024, I thought my life was complete because of my best friends. That is, until our first exam. My then-friends did not get satisfactory results, but I got a high mark. They began to side-eye me in class and say negative things about me behind my back out of jealousy. I was so shocked when another classmate told me. I put a lot of effort into these friendships and treasured everything I had experienced with them. All of it was shattered because of a simple exam result. Although it taught me an invaluable lesson about who to trust and count on, it was a horrible experience.
Elina Lee Ting-wai, 16, Pui Kiu College: The unexpected loss of a beloved pet. The pain of bidding farewell to a loyal companion can linger, leaving you with a heavy heart and casting shadows over moments of joy. Erasing this memory would offer solace and a chance to remember the cherished pet in happier times, preserving a sense of comfort and love without the weight of sorrow. It would allow me to heal and the opportunity to focus on the warmth and companionship my pet brought me rather than the sorrow of their absence. I think erasing the memory of the loss would give me peace and gratitude for the memories of my pet that remain untainted by sadness.
From ‘cooked’ to ‘rizz’, readers share their favourite slang to use over the last year
Charissa Tsui, 13, St Paul’s Convent School: It would be the heart-wrenching experience of being sick and missing the Christmas party on the last day of school in 2024! I had eagerly anticipated the festivities with my peers and teachers – the smell of spiced biscuits, exchanging gifts, taking photos and laughter filling the classroom. Instead, I was cocooned in blankets, feverish and alone, as joyful voices echoed afar. The most memorable and magical day of the year faded into a lonely blur and illness, leaving me yearning to erase this awful memory!
Lala Lam Ching, 12, Ho Yu College and Primary School (Sponsored By Sik Sik Yuen): I faced the heartbreaking loss of a beloved family pet. The day I had to say goodbye was one of the most challenging moments of my life. It was a painful reminder of how fragile life is and how quickly joy can turn into sorrow. Erasing this memory wouldn’t mean forgetting the love and joy my pet brought into my life. Instead, it would allow me to retain the lessons learned about companionship, loyalty and the beauty of life without being haunted by the sorrow of saying goodbye. This loss taught me invaluable lessons about love, grief and the importance of treasuring the time we have. In the end, perhaps the memories we wish to erase are just as important as those we hold dear, shaping who we are and guiding us toward a more compassionate future.
Sophie Tong Yee-yuet, 11, South Island School: It would be when I mistook someone else for my mother in a clothing shop. I was browsing backpacks in one aisle, and my mum headed to another part of the store to check other products out. I wanted to ask her about the backpack I was looking at, and I saw a beige coat, just like the one my mum was wearing that day, and tapped that person’s hand, thinking it was my mother. It was someone else, and I remember that woman saying, “I’m not your mum!” I was hugely embarrassed. I hope to erase that memory.
Nicole Chan Cheuk-ying, 15, Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School: I would not erase any of my memories. Many things have happened this year, exciting and boring. Some brought me happiness, and others brought pain. However, they are all my experiences: records of my life. No matter what the memories are, they are a part of me.
Hylia Chan, 11, St Paul’s Co-educational College Primary School: I wouldn’t erase a single one. Good or bad, these experiences made me stronger and helped me grow into a better person. I am grateful for the good memories, while the bad ones taught me valuable lessons that will prevent me from making the same mistake.
What we would do if we received a mysterious message from the future
Anson Ng Wai-yan, 13, St Mary’s Canossian College: I want to erase the memory of walking down the alley behind my school in 2024. I screeched as a rat scurried past the narrow path while a rat trap nearby remained empty. It was such a ghastly sight that it sent a chill down my spine. This experience made me reflect on the worsening rodent infestation in Hong Kong. I have heard numerous news reports about rat sightings in various streets and neighbourhoods throughout the year. I realised how critical it is to address rodent infestations. It’s not just about cleanliness; it’s about creating a safe environment for everyone. Students like us deserve to learn without the anxiety of pests nearby, and we need action to ensure our schools and neighbourhoods are free from these unwanted visitors.
Jovina Chung Man-yan, 11, Holy Angels Canossian School: I want to erase the memory of a conflict I had with my best friend. We had been best friends for a long time, and she suddenly left my class. It made me feel very lonely. As someone who hates change, it made me feel so angry. After reflecting, I realised this argument would hugely damage our friendship. Although we are friends again, I want to erase this painful memory of a moment that strained our friendship.
Jasmine Chan Wan-sum, 13, St Paul’s Convent School: I would choose to forget when I sprained my foot during a trip to Italy at the beginning of 2024. It was, overall, quite an agonising experience, and I even had to use a crutch for two more weeks after returning to Hong Kong! I felt hopeless at the time and constantly cried, but I finally got through it.