What is Identity?

What does identity mean? For me, it means the individuality of someone. Everyone is different and there could only be one copy of a person. For example, there are so many people in the world named Meg, but every Meg is different. Sometimes people think that twins were born the same and would think alike too, but that idea is absolutely wrong. Twins could be born looking alike, but their minds are different and their perspectives are different. Identity sets your view on things differently than others. I could see a jar of cookies as delicious treats, while my sister could view it as a meal. Identity could also affect how you see the world, some look at the world as a glass half full, but others might look at the world as a glass half empty. That also means that people could view the world positively, or negatively; it’s their identity.

Identity could depend on many factors that affect you and who you are. For example, volleyball is a part of my identity because I’ve grown obsessed with it, while part of my friend's identity is ice skating. So, as you can see, different beings have different things that affect them. Things that are important to people are different because of identity; it also causes personality. Everyone’s personality is also different because some could be very shy, while others are confident. Your Identity could also be affected by your environment. For example, if a child was born and raised in a loving family, they would turn out to be a good person. But, if a child was raised in a troubled family, that child could grow up having problems too. Also identity is not something that everyone would discover at the same time. Some people would discover their identity sooner than others. But, everyone's identity would reveal itself in their lifetime, it's just that people discover it at different times. William Shakespeare wrote, "We know what we are, but not what we may be." I think that is a very strong quote that relates to Identity because it also means that identity could change due to the different factors that affect a person's life. 

Identity has played a big role in my life because it is who I am, but I keep changing constantly so my identity is an ongoing process. I think that there are two fragments of identity, one is your core identity and the other is your outer-layer identity. The core identity is permanent and it would never change. It consist of your believes, your values, and what is most important to you. Your environment influences the outer-layer of your identity. For example, when I’m in Asia, I usually listen to K-pop and J-pop. But, when I’m in America, I listen to hip-hop and pop music. In conclusion, identity is what set you apart from others and what makes you special and unique. You should always be proud of who you are and never try to be like someone else. There is only one you and only one life, make the most of it. 

This is a chart of the many factors that affect identity and who you could become: