An impression
Although it was just the first time that Sydney would see a giraffe in her life, it left an impression on her that would carry on for the rest of her life, or at least for the years to come. When she got home from the zoo and in the years that followed, giraffes became more of an obsession.
She just loved them so much and wanted to know everything that she could about them. Giraffes to her were the most interesting and beautiful creatures on the planet. Sydney would have pictures of them in her room and her parents thought it was just a phase that most kids go through.