Growing up, I, like everyone else I've ever asked, it's as though you're just aware at some point in your past but there's never a specific moment. That's just how life is. It's reality.
Me personally, I've had many memories, some more striking than others, but all build to my present. Which, now that I'm older, middle aged by some of my ancestor's accounts, I see how I'm still young. It's no surprise really, I paid attention to my elders growing up. I got lucky and was raised by decent people also.
No, in order to get anywhere in life you have to learn about 'it.'
The better the knowledge you have of reality, and how it functions, the better your odds of survival.
There are many things about reality. Too many to go over. It's virtually infinite.
There are atoms and Adams. Pixies don't exist but here I can talk about them all the same.