A significant moment from my youth was shortly after I had moved, and I had started going to a new school. I was in second grade then, and I learned in grades three and up, students with straight A's, perfect attendance, and good behavior (the holy trinity of being the perfect student, it seemed) would receive the "principal's award."

The reward was funded by a wealthy dentist from the city, but winners of the award would get to leave school in a limo to go to Olive Garden for lunch.

This brought me immense motivation and determination. I wish I was still like that. I wish my life and brain didn't knock me down so hard.

Anyyyyyway, after, like, a month or so of super hard work, I got it (I don't remember exactly how often they did it, because I received the award a second time around Halloween).

That time, I was the only one in my class to receive it.

In the limo, we got to drink apple cider out of fancy glasses. Daaaang, if I still got that kind of treatment for accomplishing things, I would accomplish so much.

I got Sprite and I poured a bunch of Splenda in my cup. Don't ask my why I did that, in front of a dentists no less. (I did NOT do that the second time, I promise)

The second time, two other students from my class also received the reward. On the limo ride the radio was playing Thriller by Michael Jackson.

Both times, unfortunately, we had to ride the bus back to the school because budget. 😂

Sadly, I didn't receive the Principal's Award again after the second time because my perfect attendance had been broken by getting sick with throwing up/stomach issues.

Another significant moment from my childhood was when I was about six or seven. We went to a Japanese hibachi grill, and I'm, like, 90% sure I saw the Bizarre Foods guy, Andrew Zimmern at a table with a bunch of other people, and the hibachi at their table was going and they were all laughing and having a good time. I don't think anyone believes me about that 😂😂😂😂😂