The December holiday has a way of presenting us with most of the fond memories to always remember. Looking back at my past years, I could see that there are some years that bear a higher memory than others, and most of my fond memories, which I will look back on to keep smiling at, were all centered around my childhood and teenage years. This is why sometimes I wish to travel down to my childhood stage to enjoy some moments without thinking of being overwhelmed with responsibilities.

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I grew up to still love the hype of the holiday season even as an adult, and I try to always create amazing memories with my kids and myself, but I doubt if I can recreate some of the fond memories of my teenage years because they were all spent in the village, and things have changed a bit now from how we lived life then. Having said that, I will quickly take you through my fondest memories of the holiday season back in those years as a teenager.

I remembered vividly how I looked up to the December holiday because of the guaranteed new shoes and clothes. Those days, there was no hope of getting new dresses or outing shoes except during Christmas. From year to year, I wouldn't even expect it because of how things were for us in my family then, but once it's December,my parents will strive to get new clothes for my siblings and me. Eating enough chicken and drinks was only possible during the December holiday. All these goodies usually make me look forward to the December holiday back then as a teenage girl, but there's this year, which looked extraordinary. It's a holiday I will always remember for the rest of my life. It is a special and fond memory, and it was a year I participated in a cultural dance competition with different groups as a lead dancer.

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It was an unplanned competition to join in, as I wasn't initially part of the dancing group, but one evening around the first week of December. I overheard some dancers just a bit closer to my house, and I traced them. On getting there, I discovered that it's Catholic girls dance rehearsals for an upcoming inter-parish event. I wasn't even a Catholic church member then; I was an Anglican, but I didn't care. I watched them dance, and I really wanted to take part. After watching them the first day and the second day, I was bold enough to meet their dance coordinator, expressing my interest in joining even though I wasn't their church member. I was so excited to receive "yes" as an answer, and the next day,I joined and began dancing with them. Within one week of the rehearsals, I was made the lead dancer due to how good I was. It was so surprising to many people that I could pick it up and even lead. The whole three weeks of rehearsals prior to the event were one of my most fondest memories, to the point that I missed lots of meals in my house due to excitement. Even my uncles and aunts who traveled home that year didn't see more of me at home. I was always away from home with all enthusiasm, rehearsing some dance steps and the songs accompanying the dance.

The D-day came, and up to seven other parishes with different cultural attires were present together with the panel of judges. I was prepared for the dance and didn't disappoint my group, even as the lead dancer. To crown it all, we won the competition, and I was super excited. My family was amazed at how I followed another church to a competition with full interest; coincidentally, I later married a Catholic.

As a teenage girl then, I found the experience so interesting, and it has remained one of my fondest memories so far.

This is my late entry to the #Hivelearners community contest for week 93, edition 2, on the topic titled Your fondest holiday memories.