Identity

My family is the most prevalent factor that has affected my identity; after all, they are the ones who raised me. My parents have raised me to work hard at everything I do and to balance my life. They’ve been supportive of me in everything I’ve done, including school achievements and soccer. I have learned from my parents to be hardworking and to pursue a career that I enjoy because that's the only way to fulfill one’s life. I learned that I get involved in things that I enjoy and find interesting and that I support others in their choices because everyone has his or her own uniqueness. Because I have one sister who has attended both my elementary school and high school, I have felt like I have lived in her shadow since I started school; this is because teachers who have had both my sister and I sometimes have called me by her name. Despite this, having an older sister has been helpful because I can ask for her opinion or help on anything because she’s the only person who’s been through exactly what I have been through. I have learned from having a sister that there are times when I’m not always going to be the center of attention (and it’s not the end of the world) and that there are times when only the people who know me the most can give the best advice.

My friends are another important factor that has affected my identity. Some people say that who you make friends with gives insight into you as a person; in a way, I believe this is the case. The friends that I’ve made in the past four years have taught me a lot, not only about myself but the reality of the world in which I live. Freshman year seems like awhile ago, but it was when I made one of my closest friends. She and I bonded over having some of the same problems and liking some of the same music; I realized that there are other people like me, but I just hadn’t met them yet. Over the years, my friend group has changed. I have many friends who are interested in different things than I am; I think this is important because those are the people who introduce me to things I wouldn’t know about or have been exposed to at all. My friends have taught me about the type of people with which I make friends: interesting, caring, helpful, and different. With my friends’ varied backgrounds, I have learned that people are diverse and embracing this is the best way to learn about other traditions and ideas, but you have to be careful; not everyone is nice, not everyone befriends you for the right reasons, and not everyone will like you. Finally, I learned that as I change and discover more about myself, my friends will change too; it’s good to have people in your life from your past and present.

Lastly, a specific experience I had in eighth grade affected my identity. At GMA, I played basketball in seventh and eighth grade. In eighth grade, I played in almost every game and was in the starting lineup for some games. The day after Christmas, I broke my finger at practice and was not allowed to play for a couple weeks; it was upsetting to me at the time. At the end of the year, we had a sports awards assembly. I wasn't expecting to receive an award because we had a lot of good eighth grade girls on the team, but I did. I received the Helen Mohan Award, which was “presented to the eighth grade girl who displays outstanding effort and determination,” and I was shocked. Receiving the award was exciting and a confidence booster; I felt appreciated and instrumental to the team, but also proud of myself for making a lasting impression. I learned that if I apply and dedicate myself to an activity or task, I could be successful. Also, I learned that hard work pays off in the end, so it's always important to try my best, striving for a sense of achievement.