Personal Narrative: Understanding Someone's Identity
Understanding someone’s identity requires some background from a certain perspective. Not specifically their perspective as the identity may be based on someone else’s thoughts or may adapt to the audience that one is identified by. Let’s use myself for example shall we. Identify myself as a reserved, curious tinkerer. Without a doubt, anyone can have a multitude of identities or “faces”, but in two adjectives and one noun that is how I would generally identify myself. If you were to ask someone other than myself to describe me, I am sure the answer would vary drastically.
My first title is a “brother”. This is the identity by which I am known to some of my closest friends and, of course, my own actual brother. For as long as I can remember,
advice has been something people seem to value in me. Thinking objectively and unbiased about situations is a trait that I believe many people correlate with honesty. That perceived honesty makes others comfortable and eases conversation. Being humble with this role requires me to not speak from a higher position which is why I would never assume the identity of a role-model. No matter how good the advice I give, I make just as many or more mistakes.
Contrary to how I am viewed by people who are personally close to me, in a professional environment my identity is different. In terms of work, I am classified as a generally inclined person. In one word, “Handy”. Always being willing to try something at least once and being curious about many things are the driving traits behind that. If the work I am assigned to has purpose, then you could without doubt assume I will put great effort into it. If I am not familiar with it, questions will be asked and analysis will be made; whatever it takes to learn or get better.
All these things sound well but, there is always the first impression. Before a person knows me well personally or professionally, they will most likely try to identify me be my appearance or behavior. Black (Not African-American. I am not from Africa; I am from the United States.) and taciturn are, without a doubt, the first things that strangers and new acquaintances identify me by. Not that I blame them culture and behavior are the only things anyone can judge by before engaging with someone. Sometimes, though, it can lead to unwanted results as being so vocally reserved, let alone black, can cause people to be defensive when encountered. Other times, being this way draws curiosity. Therefore, I look at my race and personality as a filter for people that I may identify as close-minded, relatable, or plain nice. For my quietness should not be taken as judgement against someone, and my color is simply my color.
As it was stated in a previous script, identity is the distinction any individual item possesses to be recognized or utilized among similar items. Looking at the identities mentioned, I am a black, handy advisor. Anyone who takes the time to know me on a personal level would probably identify me in that order as well. There is no quarrel on my part if identity is indeed purpose and that is my identity. Now that you know my identity, what is yours?
My first title is a “brother”. This is the identity by which I am known to some of my closest friends and, of course, my own actual brother. For as long as I can remember,
advice has been something people seem to value in me. Thinking objectively and unbiased about situations is a trait that I believe many people correlate with honesty. That perceived honesty makes others comfortable and eases conversation. Being humble with this role requires me to not speak from a higher position which is why I would never assume the identity of a role-model. No matter how good the advice I give, I make just as many or more mistakes.
Contrary to how I am viewed by people who are personally close to me, in a professional environment my identity is different. In terms of work, I am classified as a generally inclined person. In one word, “Handy”. Always being willing to try something at least once and being curious about many things are the driving traits behind that. If the work I am assigned to has purpose, then you could without doubt assume I will put great effort into it. If I am not familiar with it, questions will be asked and analysis will be made; whatever it takes to learn or get better.
All these things sound well but, there is always the first impression. Before a person knows me well personally or professionally, they will most likely try to identify me be my appearance or behavior. Black (Not African-American. I am not from Africa; I am from the United States.) and taciturn are, without a doubt, the first things that strangers and new acquaintances identify me by. Not that I blame them culture and behavior are the only things anyone can judge by before engaging with someone. Sometimes, though, it can lead to unwanted results as being so vocally reserved, let alone black, can cause people to be defensive when encountered. Other times, being this way draws curiosity. Therefore, I look at my race and personality as a filter for people that I may identify as close-minded, relatable, or plain nice. For my quietness should not be taken as judgement against someone, and my color is simply my color.
As it was stated in a previous script, identity is the distinction any individual item possesses to be recognized or utilized among similar items. Looking at the identities mentioned, I am a black, handy advisor. Anyone who takes the time to know me on a personal level would probably identify me in that order as well. There is no quarrel on my part if identity is indeed purpose and that is my identity. Now that you know my identity, what is yours?