One of the events that has had a life long impact on me was seeing the Pieta at the New York Worlds Fair in 1964.
We were ushered onto a "people mover" such as you see in airports. It moved very slowly past the statue affording me a long look. We moved in absolute silence. No sound other than the mechanical sound of the conveyor. No one spoke and certainly no one took pictures. In my memory it was like being in church.
My 12 year old self thought then as I think now "how can an artist capture such a moment in stone?". "How can they create such profound beauty in a block of rock?" From then on I have been more appreciative of art whether created by humans or nature.
I am happy to say that even now at 71 yo I can still stand in wonder at such things.
So, what experience from your youth has had a lasting impact on you?