Have you ever been going about your day, and then heard a song, saw a photo or heard a phrase that evokes strong emotions of longing, sadness, or a sense of joy in you, but are not sure why? 

Most are not strangers to the feeling of nostalgia, even teenagers. It is this seemingly unexplainable longing for the past, for the “good ol’ days,” when everything seemed simpler and easier. 

“My grandpa probably has nostalgia [from] when he was young, right?” senior Kevin Baldwin said. “I think everyone feels nostalgia, but in this culture, it’s become more idolized because we lack so much of an identity. Now we just want to create an identity for ourselves.”

Sometimes this feeling is followed by a sense of sadness: pining after those times in one’s life they wish to go back to. Sometimes this feeling is followed by a fond memory that induces a smile, remembering those times with a joyful heart.

The word “nostalgia” was first coined over 300 years ago, originally used to describe homesickness. But now, the word is used more to describe a bittersweet emotional encounter. 

But what makes this feeling bittersweet? 

For some, it is a reminder that their life and identity will never line up with how it once was. For others, it is a way to appreciate the growth that motivates them to be their authentic selves. 

There are many different things that evoke a feeling of nostalgia in someone. A song they may have heard on the radio all the time when they were younger, an ad they used to see frequently on the television or even a place they always used to visit that still reminds them of being young and carefree. 

Kid stuff

A common feeling of nostalgia comes from childhood toys, like Beyblades or Webkinz, or shows like “The Backyardigans” or “Little Einsteins.” 

It is a trend for seniors to get children’s backpacks as part of their final year of high school, so it made sense for senior Jayla Tirado to tap into this nostalgia and get a Peppa Pig backpack. 

“I chose the backpack because I grew up loving Peppa Pig, and my favorite animal has always been a pig, so when I saw it I fell in love,” Tirado said. 

Baldwin gets nostalgic over the video game ‘Undertale,’ which his old friend group used to play with him. However, the way that Baldwin feels about those memories has changed over time. Now, when he hears the soundtrack to the game he used to play with his friends, he gets emotional remembering the fond memories from his childhood associated with the game.

“I was watching a YouTube video and I heard one of the songs from the game soundtrack, and I just started bawling because it was just the feeling of associating it with a friend group that I once had,” Baldwin said. 

Games are a very popular source of nostalgic memories. Junior Tyler Honda remembers the fun times he had playing “Animal Jam” when he was younger. 

“I hadn’t played ‘Animal Jam’ since I was eight, and I started playing some of the mini games recently,” Honda said. “It was really fun, just seeing all the games again after such a long time.”

Nostalgia also often comes in the form of places where many memories were made. Junior Memory Marsh gets nostalgic when she smells freshly cut grass, or visiting places that she used to go frequently as a child. 

“Seeing the playground I used to play on when I was little, and seeing the hallways where I used to roam [in school] brings back so many memories,” Marsh said. 

Living in the past

Nostalgia can sometimes make it easy to get caught up in romanticizing  the past, casting an idealized light upon how life used to be and forgetting that no time was perfect, even if it may seem like it in the present.

“I have found that before I matured, nostalgia was almost like a crutch that made me believe that life used to be great,” Baldwin said. “[It was like] looking at the past with rose-colored glasses.”

Despite the potential issues nostalgia can cause for mental health, it also plays a powerful role in shaping identities. Reflecting on the past can be a source of insight to personal growth. It allows people to see how far they have come, how much they have changed and how their experiences have contributed to the people they have become.

Junior Rediat Eshleman has her own way to appreciate her past while still being able to embrace her present and future. 

“I try my best to recognize that I’ve had such a blessed life to have so many amazing memories with so many people,” Eshleman said. “That definitely helps me to push myself to make more fond memories that I’ll be nostalgic about.”

All in all, nostalgia allows for a recognition of the past; a way to be transported back to wonderful memories. It can have some downsides, making dwelling in the past a potential issue. However, the positive memories from childhood and past experiences overall cause people to appreciate good times from their pasts.