Reflective Essay On Personal Identity

Growing up Asian in an area largely dominated by white Australians, has affected my personality and view on the world around me. I discovered what race was when I was in grade 1 and from that day on, I have always felt a sense of alienation and difference. As a child all I wanted was to blend into the norm, to fit in, to be white. My voice began to mimic the other kids voices, my lunches strictly did not contain any “weird” food and anything “strange” or “abnormal” things I did at home must be kept a secret. This act soon dissolved into my identity, I stared to see myself like one of them, Australian. However, as I began to become more “Australian”, my own sense of culture hindered. I soon found myself torn between two cultures, and in some ways robbed of my culture, due to social assimilation. This feeling of

mostly of Caucasian. Although I am a quick learner, it was especially hard for me

“You're Mexican?” Is the question that has been etched in my brain from a young age. As a person of Mexican descent and little resemblance to stereotypical appearances of brown eyes, short, and black hair, this is the hurtful response to my answer for the question,”,What ethnicity are you?” Unfortunately, the assertion that I am Mexican is something that I have had to defend throughout my entire life. In defense of this part of my identity, I write this essay.

A person’s identity is shaped by many different aspects. Family, culture, friends, personal interests and surrounding environments are all factors that tend to help shape a person’s identity. Some factors may have more of an influence than others and some may not have any influence at all. As a person grows up in a family, they are influenced by many aspects of their life. Family and culture may influence a person’s sense of responsibilities, ethics and morals, tastes in music, humor and sports, and many other aspects of life. Friends and surrounding environments may influence a person’s taste in clothing, music, speech, and social activities. Personal interests are what truly set individuals apart. An individual is not a puppet

Identity. What is it? Where does it come from? Where do humans get that sense of “I’m going to be this way” or “I’m going to believe in this” or “This is what makes me, me”. Everyone has a different identity, we all have dreams, goals, perspectives, and different personalities, and this is all what makes being human beautiful. Identity, I believe, consists on components that build character on how other people view you. Sometimes, stereotypes get in the way of this. You’re identity is part of how you live yes, but how you look and how you present yourself is not really a part of who you truly are on the inside.

To be an American is to have traits of freedom the thing that the founding fathers counted on is to have the will to speak freely and to have the will of religion in the constitution it say that every citizen should have life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This impacts and brings everyone from different places to help create a society that is free. The founding fathers also counted for the people to speak for what is right. The reason is because this helps out on what the people want instead of the government wants this goes to show that the people matter and that is what makes a person happy and also makes a person feel like they have the pursuit to be happy.

My identity is something that has helped shape not only my personal being but also has influenced those around me. It is something that cannot easily be defined by words but rather it is reflected by my character. Race and ethnicity are prominent issues in today’s society and can be negative or positive influences on an individual’s self-esteem and identity. Due to government structures, socialization, and experience one develops a sense of belonging (or not) and this creates one’s identity. My identity successes and challenges have given me opportunities to defy society’s standards and allowed me to decide who I am as an individual. With this, I have also become more open-minded and sensitive to other cultures and ethnicities.

    Have you ever thought about your identity, what represents you? What defines you as a person? There are many factors on what shapes identity, such as appearance, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc., but there are two factors that speak to me most when it comes to understanding identity, gender and race. After reading articles talking over the importance of identity and seeing the powerful impact it brings to this world, it immediately made me think of what defines myself, and I quickly thought of the relationship between gender and race. Identity correlates our lives every single day, your name gives you so much meaning as a person. I believe

10 in the morning on a Friday, Veteran’s Day. Being as lazy as I would make this scenario none but imagination if it were not for one specific event of sorts. Sitting in a Starbucks, the only one among two other friends without a drink yet all three of us are more than excited for what the next hour has in store. The first signs rolled up in sight from the front door, lined up, and staring us right in the eyes. Flat fours, exhaust ranging from one tip to four, and badges encircling a familiar six star pattern.

Half of my identity revolves around my race and culture.The first impression people have about my race is that I am white, but I quickly break that single story they may have of my race when I say that I am Mexican. Mexico is where my father was born and my mother was born here, but her parents as well were born in Mexico. My culture is revolved around Mexican traditions. Being Mexican isn’t just my race, it also has a vast influence on the way I talk, my manners, and how I carry myself. Mexico symbolizes countless parts of who I am and the first word that pops up in my head to describe it is tranquility. Every time I am there for vacations or family visits as soon as I step foot out of the plane I’m instantly happier and calmer. My family and I are Christian and all of us have been brought up to follow the christian ways and to attend church.This affects my everyday life as long as I am told to pray every morning and night and every family gathering, praying is always involved, so our family is unquestionably religious. The number 15 isn’t just my age, it's part of my culture as well. When the girls in my culture turn 15 everyone takes is serious since it’s the age girls become women, therefore families throw a tremendous party to celebrate.

Who am I? What do I value? Am I simply a submissive puppet that has no voice and must be dictated by society 's demands? Or because I am a woman I destined to be physically, mentally, and emotionally weaker than my opposite sex, which means I can never be called an equal to counterparts? In society, we are faced with different forms of designations and descriptions that lead to the establishment of a person 's identity. These identities include sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, economic background, community, and religion. Identities are used to oppress individuals making it nearly impossible to overcome the obstacles that are insinuated with these traits. Overcoming any of these identities is an epic feat and a person who

The idea of self and identity is highly intricate, and the self can either be one of three options: the self is private, constructive, or a mixture of both. In the private viewpoint, the self is static, founded on a set number of traits, values, and dispositions that will not change with time. The constructivist theory argues that the self is changeable by nature and changes based on varying circumstances.Then, there is the mixture idea, that these separate opposing ideas are connected, as the way the self is developed and reflected upon is based on how the brain and individual thoughts develop. This is highlighted in Gopnik’s statement that, “Ourselves shape our brains at least as much as our brains our selves” (Gopnik 2). When reflecting on Gopnik’s article more it seems only logical to think that some parts of the self is constructed, whereas other parts are private, and this completely depends on the environment of the child. Parenting styles is one of those environmental aspects, and it largely impacts how a child’s socioemotional, and language skills develop, which in turn has a ripple effect on how the child ultimately views their own personality and self.

Identity is difficult to define because it is something that cannot be touched nor seen, though every person knows that they have one. I believe that identity is like a living and growing organism, it constantly adapts and changes based on its environment. What makes an identity is the experiences and choices that a person has had in their life. I know that I am not the same person I was at 10 years old; my knowledge of the world has expanded and I have learned from my past mistakes through the years. A baby doesn’t recognize who it is because it has never experienced or chosen anything in its life but as it grows and learns the child would have to decide what it wants and even the simplest decision can impact its entire identity. Our choices become us. If I had chosen to go to a different high school, I feel that my identity would be changed. If I did go to a different high school, I could have possibly wanted to be a writer instead of wanting to become a doctor. Though I regret some of my choices and actions in life, I wouldn’t change any of them because they have shaped who I am.

My identity was defined as a human being, not one of Korean. It was changed after coming to the United States. Although I have heard and learned about cultural differences, I could not sympathize with it. The belief that was normal for me can be abnormal in other cultures. There are lots of stop signs in residential areas in California, and drivers have to stop for a second in front of the signs. But, I have never done before in Korea because most Korean drivers cross the intersections with glancing other sides for a moment without stopping. A time in my life that caused me to learn a lesson of cultural difference was when I was caught by police because of ignoring stop sign in residential area. This experience caused me to remind the proverb: When in Rome, do as the Romans do, to feel the importance of the each individual in the community, and to listen to others advice.

I am covered in skin too dark to be considered smart, but too light to be completely cast away. I am plastered in feminine characteristics too overt to be respected and revered, but too covert to not be overly-sexualized. Society has trapped me in the middle of two stereotypes and left me fighting to escape into my own identity. Questions like “where will I be … what will I be doing … who will I be doing it with ... “ricochet throughout my mind daily. Most importantly, my consciousness persistently ignores the most integral question blaring in my head: “who will I be …” because at times, it’s easy to lose yourself in the swarm of prejudices and discriminatory settings, overwhelming internal conflicts, and chaotic circumstances hurdled at you.