I remember so little from high school, but in the past few years, as my profile as a writer has gotten more visible, I've started to hear from the kids I went to high school with and, oddly enough, they all remember me distinctly. They reach out via e-mail, or Facebook, or at events, and ask me, eagerly, if I remember them too. They share anecdotes that make me seem like I was interesting and not as unbearable as I remember myself. I
In Roxane Gay’s book "Hunger," she reflects on her high school experience, emphasizing her struggle to recall much from that time. However, as her writing career has progressed and become more prominent, former classmates have begun to reconnect with her. They reach out through various platforms, eager to reminisce and share their memories of her, which seem to paint a more favorable picture of her past self than she recalls.
The irony lies in Gay's perception of her high school persona; while she viewed herself as unremarkable or even unbearable, others see her as interesting. Their recollections and eagerness to engage challenge her own memories, highlighting the disconnect between how we view ourselves and how others perceive us. This interaction serves as a reminder of the impact we have on others, even when we feel insignificant.
