One photo. One story. Countless memories.
Our photo galleries are chaotic archives of our lives. Some treat it as a scrapbook or a digital diary, while others treat it as a place to dump all screenshots of passwords waiting to be forgotten again.
Filled with blurry concert videos, food photos we forgot to post, lecture slides we’ll probably never study, and enough memes to last a lifetime. Hidden among all of that are a few images that instantly transport us back to a specific feeling, person or moment.
We asked students to scroll through their camera rolls and share the photo that means the most to them. Their answers show that our favourite pictures aren’t always the most aesthetic. Sometimes they’re the ones tied to long-awaited milestones, family and the moments that quietly changed our lives.
A trip worth remembering
For Ricardo Deokissoon, a Business Marketing student, his favourite photo is the one that reminds him of everything about his family.
On May 10, 2026, a photo featuring a phone case decorated with stickers was taken. These stickers were collected during Ricardo’s family trip to Barbados.
“It was a reminder for the fun and adventures we had,” he said.
Sometimes the smallest souvenirs hold the biggest memories. Whenever Ricardo looks back at the image, he’s immediately reminded of the time spent travelling with the people closest to him.
And for Ricardo, this would be the one photo he’d keep forever.
“Yes, this would be it because that memory means the world to me.”
Chasing a dream
For Simran Mahal, a Medical Laboratory Technology student, one photo represents more than just a beautiful vacation spot — it represents a future she wishes to create for herself.
Captured during a trip to California, the image reminds her of the time she spent there with her family and the feeling the place left behind.
“This photo was taken in California. It means a lot because I was living with my family there, and when I went to California, I really loved it; overall, just the vibe and the area was so beautiful.”
Whenever Simran comes across the photo, she is reminded of the life that she hopes to build one day.
“When I look at this photo now it just reminds me of how beautiful Cali was and how I wanna move there.”
When asked if this is the only photo she could keep in her photo gallery, she didn’t even have to think twice.
“Yes, this would probably be the one I would keep because it reminds me of my dream to never give up and also just always remember that beauty exists in the world.”
A new beginning in a new country
For Chastian Escat, a Biomedical Science student, one photo memorable to him is the one that started an entirely new chapter in his life.
Taken on Dec. 15, 2024, the image was the very first photograph he captured after arriving in Canada from the Philippines.
“The image signifies the first photo I took when I arrived in Canada, holding both the chapter I left behind in the Philippines and the beginning of my new journey in Canada,” he said. “It captures the moment I entered a new environment with hope, dreams, and thoughts about the endless possibilities waiting for me in the future.”
Looking at the photo today brings a different perspective than it did when it was first taken.
“I actually haven’t looked at this photo for a while, so seeing it again brought back a lot of emotions, but the strongest feeling I had was gratitude. It reminded me of how far I have come and made me realize that even during moments of uncertainty, things eventually get better.”
Although the photo holds deep meaning, when asked if he would keep just this photo, he says it wouldn’t be the only image he’d choose to keep forever.
With more than 47,000 photos and over 3000 videos, he believes that every image tells a different part of his story.
“I still believe that I have many more memories to create and moments to capture in the future. I don’t want to limit my most meaningful memories to just one photo because every picture that I have represents a different part of my journey.”
Connecting with family roots
For Carla Isabelle Scott, a Media Communications student, her favourite photo is tied to family history.
Taken on July 5, 2024, the picture was captured during her first visit to Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, the place where her mother grew up before moving to Canada.
“ My mother is from this region, and it was meaningful to me because I got to see where she grew up and where she lived many years before moving to Canada.”
The image is a reminder to her of family, heritage and the opportunity to experience part of her mother’s life firsthand.
“I think of my family, especially my mom, and it makes me feel happy knowing I got to visit where she was born and raised.”
Finally, when asked to choose only one image to keep, Carla says this wouldn’t be it.
“It would not be this one [photo] because I have many photos of my family members, and I wouldn’t want to lose them to keep this picture; I could go back and recreate.”
Speaking a thousand words
A photo may speak words that even the most articulate language couldn’t express. A quick capture may not mean anything, but too many photos also represent memories, motivation, milestones and heritage.
It’s easy to think our camera rolls are just overflowing storage that constantly reminds us we’re out of iCloud space. But every once in a while, a photo stops us mid-scroll.
The best photos aren’t the ones perfectly edited or curated; they’re the ones that remind us of who we were in that moment. Better yet, they remind us of just how far we’ve come.
So, what’s your favorite photo?
Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash
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