Question of the Week: Memories of 2012

When you think back on 2012, say, 10 years from now, what do you believe will be your most vivid memory?

Brooke Anderson, Junior, Ceres High School

My most vivid memory from 2012 would be getting a car for my 16th birthday. I was so overwhelmed, surprised and so happy in every way possible. Getting my little blue bug will definitely be a moment I will never forget.

Zachary Senn, Junior, Home-schooled

I was staying in a hostel down an alley in an old section of Beijing. The hostel was managed by students who lived in the country but had come to the city to study. We were the only people staying in the hostel, and the language barrier between us and the operators was huge. Our second night in the city, my mom and I were preparing to go walk up and down some of the ancient Hutong alleys surrounding us. As we were leaving, the students asked us if we would like to have a party with them, since it was the week of dragon boat, one of the most important holidays on the Chinese calendar. We came back in an hour to find all of the common decorated, and tables of food set out. The students said that it was traditional to play games on dragon boat, and explained to us a game that was essentially charades. There I was, in a hostel down an ancient alleyway deep inside the heart of Beijing, playing charades with a group of students. We played for almost two hours, and it was one of the strangest and most fantastic two hours of my life.

Natalia Lima, Senior, Turlock High School

My biggest accomplishment of 2012 was — hands down — surviving the end of the world. Natalia, 1; Mayans, 0.

Taylor Menezes, JuniorCentral Catholic High School

I'll think back to my junior year and smile at the memories I shared with my friends and family. I'll shake my head at all the mistakes I made, and remember the lessons I learned and how they made me who I am.

This question is answered by membersof Teens in the Newsroom, a journalism program for local high school students.