.  This hat, it's been with me for over a decade. It's more than just an accessory. It's a part of me. I first got this hat back in fifth grade, though I didn't really start wearing it until high school. Since then, it's been on my head throughout countless memories in my life. A little over 10 years ago, it was my grandfather who picked it up for me from a store in Pittsburgh’s Strip district. We believe it was Lucy’s, but I will never really know. At the time, it was just a cool hat, freshen up my appearance. But over the years, it stood for something much more important to me. One of my first important memories of wearing the fedora happened in high school. After I had been, wearing it for a little more than two weeks, a senior I never knew before approached me, and he knew all about me. When I asked how, he said it was because of the fedora. Over the years I've searched for another fedora like this one. Something identical so that if my first hat gets lost or destroyed, I’d have a backup. But no matter how many hat stores I look into or websites I scrolled on, I've never found one quite like this one.This hat is truly unique. More than just being unique though, the fedora also reminds me of my grandfather. Every time I put it on for something important, I, I think of him; the man who unknowingly gave me something that would become such a core part of my identity. When I wear this hat, I hold myself to a higher standard. It's not just about the appearance; it's the discipline, confidence and respect that comes with it. The moment it sits on my head, it reminds me of the person I strive to be. It may just be a hat to some, but to me, it's a symbol of who I choose to be.