Loss Of Identity Research Paper

As a member of an advanced society, modern day teenagers struggle to find their true identity. This rigorous struggle is representative of, not only the teens of the past, but those of the present and definitely of the future. The struggle to discover oneself dominates in all aspects of an individual's life, whether it be how they dress, what they eat, how they act and behave, or whom they befriend. As an child grows into an adult, expectations and pressure heighten with that specific individual. In the midst of learning how to walk and talk, one of the first lessons a child is taught is that of adhering to the societal expectations and pressures forced upon them. Through firsthand knowledge and experience of this cycle, I firmly believe that whether an individual is actually open to the expectations required of them is irrelevant. In order to achieve “success,” the expectations that society provides and the pressures that peers and parents script have the upper-hand. As they are too preoccupied with meeting expectations, individuals are unable to
For example, the pressure and expectations to achieve high academic success in school, participate in extracurriculars, go to college, etc. These expectations have led me to concentrate more on these factors so that I do not disappoint, instead of expressing and molding myself into the person I want to be. Society as a whole does not clearly understand that their expectations are causing detrimental issues, such as the decrease in time spent with family. Additionally, according to a study conducted by Stanford University, over 87% of high school students are sleep deprived, a prospect I have experienced myself. Although this deprivation is not vast in the short term, over time loss of sleep accumulates and causes anxiety, depression and even suicide. I have firsthand been impacted strongly by matters such as