This memory is particularly memorable because it involves me almost drowing. I was 4/5 years old vacationing in Mexico with my family. We were down by the hotel pool getting ready to go swim. My parents were chaning, but I was already to go, so I ran over to the side of the pool. I looked down and it seemed shallow so I took a step forward. It was shallow for about 3 feet before it suddenly dropped off. I walked right off the edge, and being so young I couldn't swim. I remember looking up as I slowly sank down towards the bottom. Then I saw my dad's body enter the water as he dove in to rescue me.
My personality is quite different now because I after that I was afraid of water for a few years, and now I teach swim lessons and love the water.
I had a similar memory and I think traumatic memories are encoded strongly in long term because they would help you adapt to future scenarios. Although the fact that you became a swim teacher is quite ironic.
