Identity

Think about the diagram below and how your identity might appear different at times, and what you reveal to people and when. Perhaps some things you are still finding out about yourself too, or your values might change and shift as you have new experiences.

For me, somebody’s identity is the ensemble of the characteristics that determine who or what that person is. Our identity is what shapes us, and it is all the different qualities, beliefs, personality, looks and/or expressions that make us who we are. I think that the diagram below is a representation of what one can determine from just looking at a person, and from actually getting to know a person. The top of the diagram shows skin colour, race, gender and age, which, according to this diagram, are the only aspects of our identity that can be deduced from looking at a person. However, to get to what is the bottom part of the diagram, one has to actually get to know a person and discover all aspects of their identity.

I think that my identity might appear different at times, and this is principally because I choose to show some aspects of my personality (therefore identity) to different people – usually depending on how much I know them or how close I am to them. As I get to know a person, I usually start opening up to them and they are therefore able to find out a lot more about me and what kind of a person I am.

I also think that our values,  beliefs and personalities can change based on the experiences that we have, and since these three things are all a part of what makes our identity, I believe that there can also be slight changes in our identities over time. I think that different people can think things of you that may not be what you think of yourself, and others may perceive your identity as completely different to how you perceive yourself – however, you are the only person who truly knows yourself and so, according to me, if people are slightly wrong about your identity, it is only because you have chosen to show them certain aspects of yourself, and not your whole identity.