Revision Piece

Bev Nunes
Smith and Wells-Edwards
English 101D OL
2 June 2011


9 April 2011

Different Identities

Identities are a unique collection of a person’s interactions of a mental and physical environment. “All things start inside your soul and work outward. Thoughts are powerful. Words are powerful.” (Latifah 35)

In high school, Lucy was excited to be just another student, but the ridicules found her there. She would eat her lunch in her guidance counselors’ office, just so she would not have to endure the tormentors. What a lonely existence this is. “They pointed openly and laughed, calling out loudly enough for me to hear, “What on earth is that.” “That is the ugliest girl I have ever seen.” (Grealy 69) Not to be able to sit with anyone or talk to anyone. “These boys were older than the ones in grade school, and for the very first time I realized they were passing judgment on my suitability, or lack of it, as a girlfriend.”(Grealy 69) Upon hearing these words throughout her life, changed her identity to something different other than what it started out to be. People, who attack others, seem to think that it’s cool to make fun of people. Physical scars are skin deep; mental scars reside where your identity is formed.

The mental scars are influenced by the society around us; family, friends, co-workers, school, and the ridiculers. They impact how we look, dress, speak and our mental image. “The cafeteria is high school’s proving ground. It’s one of the most unavoidable and important thresholds, the place where you find out if you have friends or if you don’t. The cafeteria is the place where forms of human sacrifice occur, the merciless rituals of cruelty on which the kids thrive.” (White 15) Society’s melting pot is the proving ground that shapes us into who we become.

Society’s melting pot is a cruel, merciless playground. This is seen in children as they begin making their own decisions. “That same afternoon, our doorbell rang. It was our new next-door neighbor, a friendly girl my age named Julie. She asked me my name and after a moment of hesitation, I introduced myself as Julie. “What a coincidence!” she said. I didn’t mention that I had been Julie for only half an hour.” (Dumas 86) Firoozeh changed her name to be accepted. Society’s melting pot has influenced a young girl to make a decision about her image.

Images that are put forth precede our identity. Why do we place our identity in things that are on the exterior of our lives, such as our appearance, our friends, or what kind of car we drive, but truly not what is in our hearts where our lives really matter? If we were to list the things we are, we might find that very little of our identity is within us while more is connected to us from the exteriors of our lives that dictate our identity. Family history might show who we are. If you are clear minded and not confused, it is easy to be aggressive; having an identity does that for you. Your identity is what you are, and will shape your future.

If you ask your family and friends to describe the person you are, you are going to get many different answers, because they all perceive you differently and they all have a different opinion of who you are.
The persistent identity-self is the source of a person’s unwelcome experiences. It is always the interpretation of an experience that determines whether a person will welcome or resist it, and the interpretation is determined by the identity that filters the impressions of the event. The same experience may be welcomed by a being in one identity and resisted by the same being in a different identity.

The emergence of an identity crisis occurs during the teenage years in which people struggle between feelings of identity versus role confusion. Researcher James Marcia (1966, 1976, 1980) has expanded upon Erikson's initial theory. According to Marcia and his colleagues, the balance between identity and confusion lies in making a commitment to an identity. Marcia also developed an interview method to measure identity as well as four different identity statuses. This method looks at three different areas of functioning: occupational role, beliefs and values and sexuality.

In conclusion, identity is the way individuals shape their own identities to themselves. How different cultures may influence the way one perceives their own identity. Identity comes from experience, out of the different roles that you have tried your choices, and even your genes. It has many components, people, places, things, ideas and personalities. Your identity is who you are and who you are becoming from your individual self. It progresses as you grow and learn. Identity is complicated and it becomes more complicated as we grow into ourselves.



Revision

Identities are a unique collection of a person’s interactions with their environment. These interactions can be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. Some people believe that identity begins with a spiritual interaction. “All things start inside your soul and work outward. Thoughts are powerful. Words are powerful.” (Latifah 35) It also works in reverse. Thoughts and words whether positive or negative, are very powerful in forming ones identity.

In Lucy Grealy’s essay “Mask” it tells us that she was going to start high school. Lucy was excited to be just another student, but the ridicule that she endured while in junior high, also found her there. As she walked down the hallway or even sat in the lunchroom, these words would haunt her. “They pointed openly and laughed, calling out loudly enough for me to hear, “What on earth is that.” She would eat her lunch in her guidance counselors’ office, just so she would not have to endure the tormentors. What a lonely existence her life was shaping out to be. “That is the ugliest girl I have ever seen.” (Grealy 69) They would make fun of her, and she was not able to sit in the lunchroom with anyone or talk to anyone. “These boys were older than the ones in grade school, and for the very first time I realized they were passing judgment on my suitability, or lack of it, as a girlfriend.”(Grealy 69) Upon hearing these words throughout her life changed her identity to something different other than what it started out to be. Physical scars are skin deep; mental scars can form ones identity within ones inter soul.

The identity can be influenced by society that is all around us; family, friends, co-workers, school, and the ridiculers. They impact how we look, dress, speak and even our mental image. “The cafeteria is high school’s proving ground. It’s one of the most unavoidable and important thresholds, the place where you find out if you have friends or if you don’t. The cafeteria is the place where forms of human sacrifice occur, the merciless rituals of cruelty on which the kids thrive.” (White 15) Society’s words, a positive or negative, are the proving ground that shapes ones identity.

Society’s words can be a cruel, merciless playground. This is seen in children as they begin making their own decisions. “That same afternoon, our doorbell rang. It was our new next-door neighbor, a friendly girl my age named Julie. She asked me my name and after a moment of hesitation, I introduced myself as Julie. “What a coincidence!” she said. I didn’t mention that I had been Julie for only half an hour.” (Dumas 86) So that she would fit in Firoozeh changed her name to be considered a normal person that would be accepted in today’s society. Society’s words have influenced a young girl to make a decision about her identity.

Images put forth from a very young age form our identity. We often place our identity in things that are on the exterior of our lives, such as our appearance, our friends, or what kind of car we drive, not what is in our hearts where our lives really matter. If we were to list the things we are, very little of our identity is within us. Much is connected to the exteriors of our lives that form our perception of our identity. Family cultures, schools, work, church and friends are examples of exterior influences on forming identity.

Either positive or negative words and experiences will share in the way an individual shapes their own identity. Different cultures may influence the way one perceives their own identity. Identity comes from experience, the different roles, the choices made, and family culture. It has many components to it: people, places, experiences, ideas and personalities. Identity is who we are and who we are hoping to become.

Work Cite
Queen Latifah. “Who You Callin’ a Bitch.” Remix. Catherine G. Latterell. 2nd ed.
Lucy Grealy. “Mask.” Remix. Catherine G. Latterell. 2nd ed.
Emily White. “High School’s Secret Life.” Remix. Catherine G. Latterell. 2nd ed.
Firoozeh Dumas. “The F Word.” Remix. Catherine G. Latterell. 2nd ed