Sample Personal Memoir

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Being able to write a quality personal memoir is a valuable skill that can be very difficult. Writing an account of an event that has happened to yourself is useful for college applications, employment opportunities, as well as simply being able to keep a personal record of events that have transpired in your own life. Ultius writers provide many styles and writing content, as shown below.

Bonds born from tragedy

In 1987, a hurricane devastated our little town in the Philippines. This event changed my life forever. I’ll never forget the sound of the swirling wind and the rustle of tree branches as they swooped over the roof and crashed into the side of our house. Around 3 p.m., as I was walking into the back to check on my little sister, I felt the darkness. The whole world just went dark. It was the type of darkness you could almost feel.

It felt like the lights would never come back. I heard the caries of my sister and clumsily felt my way into her room. She had managed to cram herself underneath her little bed. Quickly, I crouched down and smiled at her even though she couldn’t see my face. I told her everything was going to be okay. 

Imminent danger

Our mother lit candles so we could eat dinner normally. Shadows danced across the kitchen wall as we ate rice. My sister and I played a game to try to identify as many shapes and animals we could. It seemed to keep our minds off how scared we were.

As the world seemed to calm down, we all decided to go to bed. None of us wanted to sleep alone, so we all piled onto my mother's mattress. I don’t remember falling asleep that night, but after what felt like five minutes, I woke up to my mother squirming around.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

Her back was wet and so was mine. We both thought my little sister had just soiled herself during the night as she was only three years old. We suddenly realized the whole world had returned to chaos outside.

My mother stumbled toward the river and saw all of our neighbors swimming through the streets. The dam had collapsed. Mr. Nguyen saw my mother helplessly peering out of the window. He shouted at her to evacuate and hurry to Mr. Labong’s house. 

I didn’t know what was happening, but, as I saw the horrified, glazed look in my mother’s soft eyes, I woke up my sister and brother. My mother frantically began scouring the house for shoes and jackets. I’ll never forget the look on her face. It seemed as though all the happiness had vanished. But at the same time, I could tell how much she loved us and wanted to keeps us safe.

As soon as we opened the door to leave, water mercilessly gushed into out house. It was all the way up to my shoulder. I gripped my brother’s hand like a vice and tried to keep him close. I looked back at my mother. She was carrying my little sister. The terror on my sister’s face was indescribable. She buried her face in my mother’s breast. Her muffled screams were drowned out by the noise of rushing water and screaming neighbors making their way for higher ground. I saw my sister’s wooden toys floating down the river that had conquered our little town.

I think my sister's innocence floated away with them that day. 

Fighting against nature

After what felt like hours, we finally arrived at Mr. Nguyen’s large two-story house. As we climbed the stairs to safety, the knot in my chest finally began to loosen and gave relief to my lungs. I just laid on the dusty wood floor and drank in the cold air. Mrs. Nguyen gave us juicy mangos and steamy rice. My sister wouldn’t eat though, no matter how much my mother begged.

She just sat there curled up against my mother with dense, lifeless look on her face. Nearly a quarter of a century has passed since that night. Underneath the terror and the shock of the night, our family forged a bond that cannot be broken. 

Resolution

I can still see the look on my sister’s face, her eyes pleading with me not to leave her. Even though my sister is now 27 years old with a family of her own, whenever we get a chance to see each other, I still see that same piercing, penetrating look on her face. There were over 900 deaths as well as mass destruction in the Phillipines that night, all due to Typhoon Nina, described as one of the worst weather events in the region's history.

Although that expression brings back terrible memories, it always reminds me of the unrelenting love that we will always feel for each other. We never talk about it, but we both know I will never leave.