In “Initiation Rites,” Jun Alindogan reflects on the defining firsts that shape a life—from childhood faith to standing up for what he believes in and venturing into unfamiliar territory. A thoughtful meditation on courage, conviction, and the realization that some of life’s most meaningful experiences don’t come with tidy endings.

It is unclear whether memory gaps or lapses are primarily genetic. According to web sources, deteriorating memory conditions such as...