- What determines my cultural identity?
- How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
- What forms of communication effectively express my understanding of my identity?
- How do I understand others different from myself?
- How does context affect identity?
Image from: http://mycareermanager.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-is-your-stage-of-identity.html
Question 1 & 2
ReplyDeleteHere is my writing. It's about 1-2-3 paragraphs of very thoughtful and honest reflection. Spelled correctly, with proper grammar and usage.
Include name if you are not logged in.
melanie boecking
Question 2:
ReplyDeleteAn experience is the way that I have experienced or encountered something. Every single person has a different experience. If 4 people attend a social gathering, each one will have a different experience of the time spent there based on personality, opinion, or just the different occurrences that happened to each one. Because I have experienced a highly comfortable life in Texas with caring parents and live in a nice home, my understanding of the world is that it is a nice and comfortable. This is of course if I have no knowledge of third world countries, what goes on in the other parts of the world or in under-privileged parts of America. My experience of the world is the cause of my understanding of it.
Question 4:
I understand people different that myself by trying to find similarities between us. There is nothing better than hearing the two words "You too?" when talking to someone. We want connections between people, it is our nature. So when I am trying to understand someone I sometimes assume that if they like something I like then there must be more similarities and I will often conclude things about them that are true about myself. This isn't the best method because assuming things isn't always best and often my assumptions are not true. But I thought about it and this is often how I try to understand people in my head.
-Madalyn Christian
Congratulations to Maddie! You are the first student to blog on our blog this semester! Kudos to you! :)
ReplyDeleteQuestion 4:
ReplyDeleteMy whole life I’ve been alone and left out because I’m so different from others that I isolate myself to save myself the pain of feeling left out. Throughout my life, I had very few true friends, all of which I have lost contact with since. I view a true friend as someone who appreciates acts of kindness and someone who can also give them back without worrying about their own agenda. Also, I view them as someone I can trust and can be loyal to me as I am to them. Whenever, I meet someone like that it makes me happy and feeling alive again. I always live up to others expectations of me and never say no when someone tells me to do something or want help. I spend all my time by myself because I feel so different it seems like there aren’t any people my age who are like me such as knowledge seekers, sensitive, open-minded, consciously cultivating my understanding of the world. I will try not to be so worried about what others think of me. Sometimes, the best way to understand others different from myself is to get over the fear face it. For example, if I like myself to become better I will face rejection rather than if I acted like a moron all the time. I know it sucks not to have people to relate to. But better understand other different from me is that doesn’t mean that nobody can relate to me, only the people I know. The most important part is to put myself out there. If I am an artist, I want to join some sort of art class or something, because there maybe some people there who share the same interest as I do. Not everyone is a moron after all; I think there are a lot truly beautiful and unique people out there. The only thing is that they can be hard to find. I know I will never hate myself. I learned that the hard way because I want give everyone a chance. I always try to speak my mind when I’m around people, I try to relax and be myself, but I end up saying or doing things that people either find me weird or offensive. When I try to be myself others don’t understand or get me. I know that we are not all the same, we learn in different ways, and have many things that interest us differently as individuals.
Question 1:
ReplyDeleteI think that cultural identity is not determined only by your race or your family heritage. Cultural identity is where you were raised and where you learned to be the person you are today. For example I couldn’t say me and my dad are culturally alike. He only speaks Spanish and I speak mainly English, we listen to completely different types of music and we also dress nothing alike. We are both Hispanic but our culture is very different.
Question 4:
I understand others different from myself by simply talking to them. When you talk to a stranger you could infer things about them. Like if a stranger was to make a conversation they would most likely assume that I grew up in the inner city by the way I talk and the way I dress and vice versa. Then you could put yourself in that stranger’s shoes and picture how they became the person they are now.
Madalyn Mae said, “There is nothing better than hearing the two words "You too?" when talking to someone.” I agree with this comment because when you are speaking with someone that you have just met it is easier to converse with them when some similarities pop up.
Question # 5 How does Context Affect Identity?
ReplyDeleteWhen we are children we are asked several basic questions, “What is your name? How old are you? And where are you from?” These questions I believe to already set the tone of how a person accepts their identity. Identity as I see it as how a person looks, reacts, mannerisms, and in general how a person tries to portray themselves to others. When you are a child at a big fancy dinner party with your parents for example, you might have to take on the persona of a quiet, well mannered, cultured child. Even if your greatest desire is to touch the beautiful and tantalizing china doll you saw in a glass case in the hall. Likewise, when someone is in school they are expected to behave with a certain level of maturity and have respect for their surroundings and their peers; regardless of their natural nature or personalities.
When I think of myself I can see where I almost have to take on a different identity when I am with certain people. If I am with my parents for example, I feel the need to be my Daddy’s little girl when I am with my Dad, and yet be my mom’s little angel when I am with her. However, having said that, the person themselves doesn’t necessarily have to change depending on the context but from what I have observed in general most people do tweak things about themselves to better suit certain situations.
I believe that people in general learn as they grow up that we all must conform (at least to an extent) in order to better fit their identity. In dealing with a social situation it might be easier for someone to just hide behind a childish persona in order to avoid conflict. When looking at most people we already get a feel for what a person’s identity might be like, but when faced with conflict or a particular situation that same person’s identity might change in order to accommodate that change.
To Madalyn Mae Christian you are very right and I agree when you say that everyone experiences is very different. Also I have had an experience of heading to another country from America and I believe that we are very lucky to what we have and not experiencing the harsh lives many do in poor countries.
ReplyDeleteQuestion number 1: what determines my cultural identity?
ReplyDeleteI believe that what does not determine cultural identity is not such as language, food, attire and your race. It is based on how the choices we do every day and how we proceed and see ourselves every day. I know that that we can have many people of our same race but we are not culturally the same, everyone is different in their own way by how they act and how you demonstrate yourself to the world.
Question number 2:How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
Experiences influence me a lot in the world just because all experiences I have may be very different from someone else because of their own opinions. I see that each person can take different experiences that can influence them in their own way, for example being able to go to another country outside of America has showed me that not everything is so easy in the world and that life is challenging that is why we should take advantage of what we have every single day.
Comment for Madalyn Christian said experience diverse culture, I totally agree with you when you said that everyone experience is very different throughout their life. I have had an experience in my own culture in Chinese (Cantonese). When I came here in American I was never prepared for any kind of cultural differences. Once I realized that I living in a diverse culture I began to believe in myself.
ReplyDeleteMegan R. Gonzales
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
I'm from Texas. Born and raised in San Antonio but I have traveled to many places in the U.S and would love to travel outside of the U.S as much as I can. If my parents had not given me the opportunity to go places outside of my home town I would probably be narrowed minded. Being able to travel and experience different ways of life has given me the ability to broaden my knowledge of other cultures and their ways of life. I can understand and appreciate how each community works together though it is not the same as my own community.
Question 3: What forms of communication effectively express my understanding of my identity?
From the jeans I where to the music I listen to screams country. American Eagle is my preference for clothes and boots are my favorite part of my accessories. If country isn't blaring from my stereo you can guarantee K love will be. Being a Texan I am more prone to helping someone in need or lost where as if we were in NYC someone would not likely find a person as willing to help. I don't realize most of the time that my appearance does represent my identity along with my actions.
Question 4: How do I understand others different from myself
I have to remember everyone's background is different. We have to agree to disagree. We are all raised differently with unique beliefs. We all have a right to a opinion even if it does not coincide with my own. Knowing this helps me understand that it is o.k if me and another do not agree on religion or politics or whatever else and that's o.k.
Question 2-
ReplyDeleteHow do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
-Since the day I first started high school I knew things would be different and they were. Once I graduated high school everything changed. With having a job and paying bills, high school never really prepared anyone for that. All the violence and abuse outside those hallways seem a lot more out of control when teachers aren't breaking up a fight, or civilians not receiving any form of punishment for the abuse they bestow on others without it taking time to process. The world outside of high school and home are way different than anyone can imagine. What I've learned is that abuse will NEVER stop. Gossip does NOT stay in high school and it really doesn't just begin with teenage rumors. Racism and sexism will never vanish and the more we college kids mature, the more we understand that us alone cannot stop it or prevent it but live with it daily.
Question 4-
How do I understand others different from myself?
-Easy, Boys go with the flow and girls think way to much. Being a girl, I do still have those feminine feelings such as being extremely jealous when my boyfriend texts another girl or not receiving flowers and chocolates unless asked, making the gift less special. The difference between me and the average girl (the majority of my friends) is that they think way too much and take everything way to far and seriously. At the age of 16 I celebrated my sweet sixteen with my whole family in my big poofy dress. In the same time frame when my friends were celebrating their sweet sixteens, they followed their boyfriends around their whole party imagining it was their wedding. After that I realized girls will always be girls. They believe they need a boy to make them happy. All I can tell my friends is to know that there are other fish in the sea, and if the last boy who broke their heart wasn't good enough for them the right one is still out there.
Question 2:
ReplyDeleteThere have been a lot of events in my life that have made me understand the world. I have been through more experiences in my nineteen years of living than a person in their thirties. I have been involved in a traumatic car accident, my parents divorce when I was only four, and a tragic loss of a loved one. It isn't fair that these things keep happening to me, but I have learned that once something bad happens, something good can possibly come out of it. Other than those things happening, I have been very blessed by parents and what they have provided me with. Sometimes I feel a little bit guilty because I know some people can't even afford a plate of food. I always wish that there is something we can do for them. I live by the motto, "everything happens for a reason." I know it sounds overused, but it has been true for me with everything in my life. I know things might not always go the way we want them to go, but there is a reason. The hard part is just trying to find it.
Hayley Weiss
Question number 1: What determines my cultural identity?
ReplyDeleteI believe mu cultural identity or cultural identities as a whole cannot be determined by your skin color or the way you speak or how you dress. I believe my cultural identity is determined by my every day actions and how i choose to present myself to the world based on those actions. Peoples cultural identity as a whole should be a reflection of their intelligence and their achievements. They should not be based on prior knowledge or prior beliefs. Cultural identity should be figured out by individual opinions of a person.
Question 4: How do I understand other different from myself?
I was born in Mexico and i moved to Texas when i was four years old. When I got here I did not know one word in English. My first day of school was very hard for me because I could not communicate with anyone. I knew I was very different from the kids in my class. But, although I was very different the children in the class still tried to talk to be and although I couldn't understand them nor they me, they still played with me and included me in their activities. This situation taught me to never treat anyone different no matter the circumstances. everyone deserves a chance to let people get to know them. So, no matter how different a person is from me I always seek to get to know them. I like introducing myself to new people it is a way to get to know so many things that are different from everyday talk, opinions and customs. I think that because I know what it is like to be different I can better open myself to other peoples differences from me.
Ilsse R
Comment for Genesis Ovando:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I feel that a lot of people have different experiences, but it's up to us to decided how we want to experience them. I went to another country too, and noticed how different everything was over there. It really made me realize how blessed we are here.
Comment for Madalyn Mae:
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on question number four. Finding things we like or have in common is the best way to get to know someone and know that even though maybe physically we are different, but we still have plenty of similar tastes and ideas. It is a great way to see differences.
How do I understand others different from myself?
ReplyDeleteI am from Salt Lake City, UT. I moved here to San Antonio five years ago. Lets just say arriving here was a culture shock. I had never before had any real contact with people of the Catholic faith. I arrived in San Antonio just before Easter and got a job working at a local nursing home. One Wednesday I arrived at work to see over half of my residents with "dirty foreheads". I was so confused. I didn't understand why none of my coworkers would wash off the faces of the residents! After everyone had a good laugh at my expense, someone finally explained to me that it was Ash Wednesday. I still do not understand the cultural and religious significance behind these acts, but I now know what they mean to the people who participate in them. I have my own religious beliefs that I know people not familiar with my religion would not fully understand.
Living here has taught me how to be more open-minded towards others. Living in the bubble of my home-town, I was never introduced to outside cultures. Since moving here I have met people from numerous religions as well as those without religion. I have met people who, at first glance, have nothing in common with me. Upon getting to know them however, I have come to realize that so many of us are so much more connected than I had thought before. I try not to judge based on first impressions, since I don't want others judging me. We are all people, we are all different. I believe we should embrace these differences and learn to grow closer to one another.
Having the opportunity to student teach, nanny, work in senior living as well as in a daycare I have definitely met those whose viewpoints clash with mine. However, you do not get to choose your students or their parents. You can only love them all and teach them the to the best of your ability. Your personal biases cannot get in the way of your teaching, once it does you are no longer a good teacher for those students. I am not saying not to challenge viewpoints or thoughts, but just like everything else in life, you learn which battles are worth fighting for. Some of my most influential teachers have been those who have challenged me every step of the way. Looking back I learned it wasn't because they hated me, it was because they were trying to transform me in to someone who is able to think outside the box.
Response to Hayley Weiss:
ReplyDeleteIt is true that bad things happen; however, I have learned you cannot let those moments define your life. It is always easy to make excuses about why you are the way that you are, but at the end of the day, only you are accountable for your actions. I say this as a person who has gone through a parental suicide at the age of four, being raised by a mother who let her boyfriends beat my brothers and I, as well never having quite enough food or clean sheets at night.
These moments have helped me become a better mother, a better student, and a better wife.
I love that you are constantly looking for the good in your circumstances. It is a rare quality and I am grateful to have this class with you. I hope to learn more from you, since I feel you will bring a nice dose of reality with you!
//Sara Miller
Question number 2: How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world? / Question number 4: How do I understand others different from myself?
ReplyDeleteI've had the good fortune to grow up in a military family. As such, I've never been in one location for longer than 3 years. This has greatly influenced my views of the world, as I have seen first hand how location can effect the people who grow up there. I've also been exposed to different cultures, even though we never got to leave the country, having lived on both coasts. Moving around so much has helped me to develop my ability to be open minded and accepting of others.
I'd like to think that I am very understanding of others who are different from me. I know that not everyone is going to be raised in a similar way, which is something I find both interesting and wonderful. These different opinions and points of view can help others to further develop their own ways of thinking.
Question 1
ReplyDeleteWhat determines my cultural identity??
I believe that cultural identity is much more than just the group or culture you belong to. Cultural identity is determined by your believes, views on the world and the way you choose to portrait your self to the people around you.
Response to Ilsse Rodriguez:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I went through the same situation when I moved to Texas but it was nice to see that even though we are different we have many things in common and it was fun finding out all our similarities.
Question 4-
ReplyDeleteI am from Abilene, Texas and have lived there all my life. Abilene is a fairly small town with a lot of old people living there, and generally everyone there is extremely nice. There is a church on literally every street corner and three Christian colleges in town. Once I got older and started to travel a little, I was shocked to see how different other places were. As a child, I had assumed that everywhere was the same as what I was used to seeing every day. Seeing how different everywhere is has made me very curious to understand how other people lived and grew up. I consider myself very open minded because I realize that not everyone is exactly like me, and that their way of life isn’t wrong, just different from mine. No matter how different someone is from you, they probably have something in common with you. When you connect with someone over something you have in common, you can see how differences don’t keep people apart, they just introduce you to new things.
Question 5-
I think that your sense of identity comes from the way you grow up and the people you grow up with, not from where you were born. You spend your early childhood being told how to act and behave around other people. You take what you are taught, and also pick up mannerisms from the people you are around. Like the saying, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do”, people learn from watching other people close to them and behaving similar to the way they do. Even if you grow up in a terrible place, if your parents demonstrate a good way of life, you will likely identify with that instead. So I believe that your identity comes from what you have been taught as a child, and what mannerisms and ideas you pick up from the people around you.
Staci Darden
Response to Madalyn Mae:
ReplyDeleteI think that all people, especially people new in college, are just looking for someone that has something in common with them. It is human nature to want someone to talk to and connect with, and finding something in common with someone is the first step to making a connection.
Staci Darden
Response to Meagan Gonzalez:
ReplyDeleteYou have some really good, interesting insight to the question. I really liked your response. It's a little strange how people expect us to act in different situations, but it's also important for us to learn proper manners and how to behave in certain situations.
@Meagan Alessandra Gonzalez -
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I loved the way you explained it and I totally agree :)
Question 1 what dtermines my cultural identity?
ReplyDeleteI think many things play a role in forming a cultural identity. To me it dosnt have to do so much with the color of your skin but instead where and how you were raised.
I believe that each generation before us is responsible for creating who we are today. We learned everything from our parents growing up , just how they did the same when they were small. Through each new generation i feel that certain traditions were passed along which shapes the way we think, and see the world. We were all instilled with certain beliefs, morales, and values that others may not understand because they were brought up differently. i feel that Our differences is what makes our cultural identity stand out from one another. =)
Madalyn Mae,
ReplyDeleteThat was perfectly said . No matter what situation it is everyone is going to come out with a different experience. your right everyone has their own personality which is going to have a big impact on their experience. =)
Question 1: I believe that culture identity is determined by how and what you were brought up. Your parents or guardians are the ones that teach you how to be and how not to be. They teach the family traditions to you and it goes from there. Everyone has a different culture identity. It’s your own sense of culture and who you become. As you get older, you start to become your own individual after knowing all the background, and learning from the people around you. That’s what makes you.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 4: The first language I spoke was Spanish. I never heard English until I started Pre-k. I don’t quite remember my pre-k days but I do remember feeling different that the rest of the students because I didn’t know the language. I never spoke or understood anything. My teacher told my mother that I was going to have issues when I got older because I never spoke. Of course I wasn’t going to speak a language that I didn’t know! Going through this so early in life has impacted me to understand that sometimes people need to be given a chance and time to acquire a language. Children have no control over the language they were first taught and others need to understand that its not easy. Its not a good feeling to feel left out. This is also another reason why I want to become a bilingual teacher so I can help children out when issues like these arise. I know how it feels to be left out of the loop.
Genesis Ovando,
ReplyDeleteI like how you described culture identity. I also believe that its based on everyday activities and how people develop themselves. Very nicely said.
Question #4
ReplyDeleteMy cultural identity is determined by many factors. I was born in the small country of El Salvador which is in Central America. Due to the civil strife going on at the time, my family emigrated to the U.S. when I was only four. I grew up in Los Angeles, California and only just left what I consider to be my home, five years ago when I moved to San Antonio. I feel like I’m a mixture of American and Salvadorean cultures. My native language is Spanish but I learned English at an early age. I take from either culture what suits me, of course there is also the Hollywood culture that I grew up around. I love movies, music and big cities. I think I was blessed to be exposed to so much diversity. That above all has influenced my cultural identity, I am proud of my roots but I am also proud of what I have acquired along the way.
Question 2 : Everything we go through in our life makes us into the people we are today and helps us understand the world better. My parents are both from Mexico and neither of them got to go to college but they worked really hard to give my brother, sister, and I everything we wanted and they did a really good job because we did have everything we needed and more. All three of us are now in college and one of the reasons we chose to better educate ourselves was because we saw how my parents worked so hard even though they struggled not knowing English. I wanted them to see that I too wanted to succeed in life and one day when I have kids I will also be able to give them a good life and opportunities. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and has different opportunities and every choice we make influences our understanding of the world.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 4 . Every time I meet someone new and get to know them I understand that every single person sees things in very different perspectives but you learn a lot from them as well. You learn to understand that everyone is always going to have different opinions and that instead of always arguing with them in order to see eye to eye you can try to see things from their point of view as well even if you don’t totally agree. I understand everyone was brought up different and even some of my best friends and I didn’t have the same thoughts on certain things. My parents have always been very old fashioned and strict about curfew rules and dating when I was a teenager and although my friends had similar rules their parents were a little more lenient. It just goes to show that everyone is raised differently so there is no way to expect all of us to have the same beliefs and opinions. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and I enjoy meeting people that are different from me because it helps me grow as a person.
Question 2
ReplyDeleteLike any person I think that the things that I have experienced in my life had made me the person that I am. As a 20 year old, I feel that there are many things that I have gone through that a normal 20 year old has not. I have seen my brother go off to fight in a war that I feel is not appropriate. My ethnicity has allowed me to rise above and beyond what people have expected from me. I feel that because I am a Hispanic woman, there are more odds against me saying that I will not succeed. When people said I would not graduate from high school or get into college; I graduated #9 in my class and showed them I would succeed. I have seen my boyfriend fight and win a battle against cancer. When people said that he would not survive, he proved them wrong and survived. These are just a few experiences that I have lived through that have changed my outlook on life. I have seen through all stereotypes and disadvantages in order to show to people that there is no such thing as a weakness in anyone. I truly feel that any experience whether good or bad can make a person more appreciative or positive about the "bad" things in life.
Question 3
The only way to truly understand my identity is to ask me or to simply read things that I have written. I feel that my identity is much like a story and the only way to get to the bottom of the story is to get to the source. I am the source to my identity. I do not like people to think that they can get the answers about who I am by simply generalizing or stereotyping the person I am. Every person has their own identity and every person has gone through their own different experiences. I do not like to group others based on their skin color, race, or religion. So for this very reason I do not like to be stereotyped. I like to speak about and write about my identity. I have a very unique identity as do many others. If you ever wish to know about my identity or who I am the answer is simple: just ask me.
Response to Veronica
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I love meeting others who were raised differently than myself. I always find it to be both educational and interesting when meeting someone who was raised in a completely different way than I was.I have found many times that the opinion of someone different than myself has made it easier for me to understand and see things in a different way that I would have not seen before.
Question # 2. How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
ReplyDeleteI'm from inner-city Chicago where poverty, violence, and crime was seen all around. My family didn't have a lot of money. But we did have options. When I was young, my mom entered my sister and I into a raffle in hopes of getting us into a magnet school so we could have a better education than Chicago's public schools. She tried several times, and finally we got in. My mom had to volunteer at the school everyday because she couldn't afford to leave and come back to pick me up. My parents always stressed the importance of an education. My mom worked full time selling eye glasses and my dad worked full time selling cars while going to school to get a degree.
I lived in a place where everyone around me was in gangs and dropped out of school, where achievements and goals were unknown words. But I learned that you have to work hard and really want to succeed in order to do so. Things aren't handed to us and things are not meant to be easy.
People all around the world go through difficult times just like I did and even worse. One of the reasons I want to be a teacher is because I want to provide the same kind of encouragement to kids who are in situations like I was. I want to show them they have options, I want to give them motivation so they can set goals. I want them to know, things are possible.
Response to Elida Cruz:
ReplyDeleteElida, I too work hard everyday of my life to prove that I can be a successful Hispanic woman. It's great to see such strength in people. Life isn't fair but you obviously know how to get through things. I always try to have a smile and a positive attitude and people ask me why I am so happy when things are going so wrong... I know the only way to get passed difficulties is to believe that you can.
Response to Hayley Weiss
ReplyDeleteI most definitely agree with you about the saying “everything happens for a reason”. When I look back at things that happened throughout my life I see that even the things I thought were the worst things ever turned out to be some of the best things that happened in order for me to learn and not make the same mistakes. Everything that you’ve gone through I’m sure has only made you into a stronger and wiser person.
Question 2: How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
ReplyDeleteEvery time I turn to a news channel I hear about all the negatives going on in the world today. I see the same thing everyday: people being murdered, children and wives being beaten and abused, soldiers dying, weather catastrophes, buildings burning down and the list goes on. Luckily, the news isn’t the only encounter I’ve experienced with the rest of the world. I have participated in various groups and activities that have had a positive impact in this so called “negative world.” People of all ages and different backgrounds took it upon themselves to come together and make a difference in our world. Although, the media tends to keep their focus on the negatives in today’s society, I know from first hand experience that there are people in the world today making our environment a better place to live, working to make our economy more secure and improving our overall well being.
Question 4: How do I understand others different from myself?
To be honest, I have never really understood others. We all have our opinions and have all gone through uneasy times, but at the end of the day no one person is going to think exactly the same. In my opinion no one can ever completely understand one another. Every student is going to answer this question in his/her own way and some of you may not agree with my answer, but this is only one example of how I know I am different from others.
Response to Megan R. Gonzales:
I loved how you used your traveling experiences to explain your understanding of the world! You were right by saying if you had not traveled you would be narrow minded. I say this from experience; I too was born and raised in San Antonio. Sadly, I have never traveled anywhere other then a beach that is a few hours away. At times I find it hard to to accept the differences in people from around the world, change for me is difficult.
Chrisanne Salinas
ReplyDeleteQuestion #1 What determines my cultural identity? Question #2 How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world Question #4 How do I understand others different from myself?
Cultural identity is how we identify ourselves by what has influenced us, what we have learned and how we apply that in our daily lives. Basically, it’s what makes you, well... “uniquely YOU.” Everyone was raised differently, with different morals, values, and beliefs. Understanding this, accepting this and being open, is how we can understand those different from ourselves. Even siblings, raised in the same household, turn out completely different. Two people can have have similar situations and experiences, good or bad, but how we let it affect us, our attitude toward it and what we take from it, is what shapes our identity. As for me, I’ve always been the encourager, the optimist, the listener and the helper. I realized at an early age that having those traits made me needed and gave me a sense of worth. My upbringing was far from perfect, I had many responsibilities at an early age and took on the role of the “little mommy”. My mother was very ill, my dad always working, so taking care of the house, cleaning, cooking, caring for my brothers and helping my mom became my everyday norm. I could’ve been angry, frustrated, seen this as a burden, but the love I had for my family helped give me an attitude of gratitude. That is something I’ve learned from my family and has stuck with me through my adult years. Having a positive attitude, believing in the impossible and having faith. Witnessing all my mom had to endure, yet she stayed happy, smiling through her suffering. I knew then she was teaching me, showing me to be brave, to rise above the fear and find peace in difficult times. Most importantly though, this experience was showing me that all things are possible... The doctors said my mom had a slim chance of making a complete recovery after her 2nd brain surgery, but she recovered. They said she’d never walk again, but she has. They said she’d never work and would be bed bound, but she does now work - devoting her time and knowledge to ministry. I’ve been through much, seen much and taken what I’ve learned to mold me into the person I am today. There is much negativity, fear and doubt in our world. Life will have twists and turns, bumps and obstacles but many times it’s adjusting our perception of things. My experiences help influence my understand of the world and others because I know everyone has a story, a history, a past. I love to listen to people and their experiences because it helps me grow as a person I just hope that my identity, the person I’ve become, the things I’ve learned can make a small difference in someone’s life too. People in general, all ages and from all walks of the world, need hope, they need encouragement, they need someone to listen to them, to identify with them and to believe in them.
Q.4
ReplyDeleteI never really feel very different from anyone else and I never really feel "out of place". I feel just as comfortable and at ease at a friend's house in the barrio as I do at a $100-a-plate restaurant. People need to realize that no matter where you are, or who you are with, your situation is hardly unique. I have been your age at one time or will be your age someday. I have gone through a situation similar to one you have gone through or may someday. We all laugh and cry. We all think and feel in one capacity or another. We are all human. We all do the best we can with what we are given. We are not very different at all.
I had answered Q.1 and Q.4 previously but when I hit "post" it did not post and lost everything I had blogged. This is my 2nd attempt;probably not as good as my 1st. I am so frustrated at this point that Q.4 is now "it". Lisa Martinez
In Response to Nancy Martinez-Gomez and Cecilia Castro:
ReplyDeleteI too believe that our cultural identity is not only a product of where we were born, or what situation we were born into, but of what experiences we choose to make our own and incorporate into our persona;our sense of self-identity.
Question 2: How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
ReplyDeleteI was born and raised here in San Antonio,TX and I am a product of a teen pregnancy. My mom was 16 and my dad was 18 when I was born. Growing up, my parents struggled to put a roof over our heads and put food on the table, but never did they give up. When I was a kid I never felt poor or lower class because my parents worked hard to get me the things I deserved. I now realize that they sacrificed so much for me and that they had to grow up so fast as teenagers. My memories as a kid always surround my parents and the love they always showed me. I remember always thinking "why are my friends' parents so old?", but I realized as I got older that my mom was only 16 years older than me. My mother has never been ashamed at having me so young and has always reminded of how hard it is to survive in this world. My dad sacrificed his high school diploma and walking the stage his senior to get a full-time job and support his family. My parents inspire me to finish school and get a good education. I want them to be proud of me. Also, my parents are so affectionate with me and always express their love towards me which made me the romantic I am today. I see the world as a tough one where you have to make sacrifices to make it through life, but it's worth it for your family and yourself. I have also learned to love! Love as much things as possible and be grateful for what we have in the world. There are tons of love going on in the world and love is not hard to find, you just got to open your eyes and really see.
Question 4: How do I understand others different from myself?
My college experience has really opened my eyes on how different people are, but you can always find something similar in everyone. I moved on campus my freshman year and lived with a roommate which we were randomly selected to live with each other. I met so many different people and I was open to getting to know them and what they like. I understood them because we talked about our background and how we ended up at UTSA and I always found a similar interest with the group of people I met. We liked to have fun and watch movies, go out, and study together. Even though we are different we understood we would disagree on certain things, but that never affected our friendships. I now live with my randomly selected roommate from freshman year and she is like my best friend. She helps me realize that even though everyone is different and come from different backgrounds we are all human and have the same feelings of sadness and happiness. She tells me it's good to be open-minded and when you meet a new person, "kill em' with kindness!"
Chrisanne, I completely agree with you that "everyone has a story, a history, a past." Every person has a story that made them the person they are today. I admire your story and it stands out to me. You are a very brave and strong girl to be there for your family at a young age. Your story helped me realize all the blessings I have from God for having a healthy family. I'm glad your mom pulled through and is now doing ministry. She is a fighter and that is awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteResponse to Cecilia Castro
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you that the interactions in our lives help to shape our identity. Being open to getting to know people different from us is how we grow into better people.
Question 4:
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me understand others different from myself is simply getting to know them. Work and school is where I meet new people the most. By working in an office we grow to know each other and see others perspectives in life. Being a manager of an office leaves me the opportunity to experience the diversity of my associates as well as the many customers that come my way. I actually sign up customers’ paperwork which gives me the opportunity to connect more with them. Connecting with my customers has opened up my eyes to understand the diversity of others. I also relate to others which also helped me understand how many people can be experiencing problems or obstacles in life just like I have. I would have never understood the diversity amongst others if I have not taken the time to actually talk and get to know others.
Response to Thais Gaona Question 4:
I love it! I wish more girls could have the same perspective when it comes to love and relationships. I have had too many conversations with my girlfriends explaining this same thing. I hate seeing people hurt, especially the ones I care about. When my girlfriends are hurt because of a boy, it’s the worst feeling knowing they are not willing to understand the right one is out there somewhere. I have now grown to learn, I cannot help one who is not willing to help them self.
Question One: What determines my Cultural Identity?
ReplyDelete-I feel my cultural identity is determined though my traditions. I don't think it has much to do with where you are from or what race you are. Yes, you might have certain traditions because of your race or religion but it is easy to adopt someone traditions simply through family or friends. In a blog titled 'Cultural identity.Who am I?' Anita Roy says “Cultural identity is a state of mind and heart. It’s not about personal habits, such as language, food, music and attire. It’s about how I feel any given day and at any given location. It’s also about gender, that unfortunate delineation, because it affects everything", so in other words Cultural Identity is influenced.
Question Four: How do I understand others different from myself?
-I feel television has given me a better understanding of their races and religions or cultural backgrounds. This means I'm going from the stereo types TV portrays in movies and sitcoms but in educational films you can see the similarities and differences of these 'Stereo types'. Also I feel being open minded and outgoing has helped me, I love meeting new people, and just sitting down and talking to them about their family and their traditions its fascinating to me. so simple taking the time to learn about others gives you a better understanding.
Lannett Gonzales: I totally agree that college has opened my perspective of people.. i have met people from all over Texas and some from other states and its so cool to see how different everyone is. iv gives the word 'unique' new meaning.
ReplyDelete1. What determines my cultural identity?
ReplyDeleteMy cultural identity is determined by the way I dress, the way I speak, and the way I present myself to others. However, these are not the only factors that play a role in the person I am today. My beliefs, morals, and values also play a major role in my cultural identity. We all come from different backgrounds, so we're all not going to have the same perspective on certain things. I was raised in a small town, Huntsville to be exact, and my current best friend was also raised in the same town. We might have gone through some of the same experiences but what we got out of it might have been completely different. With that being said the way we're raised also plays a part in our identity. The word identity alone to me means individuality. If we don't have our own identity then we wouldn't be individuals; which means we would all be the same. Our personalities along with other factors is what makes our cultural identities different from one another. And because we're different from one another we are able to understand the beliefs and views of others different from ours.
Tiara M.
in response to Megan Gonzales's comment about understanding other's different from myself..I agree with you 100%. It's ok to disagree and have different views on things as long as it's discussed and a respectful way. Sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 4: I understand others that are different from myself by getting to know all kinds of people and talking to them. I like meeting new people, so I know people with all different cultures and backgrounds. I think it is important for people to understand others that are different from themselves. It is especially important for teachers to have a good understanding of different kinds of people because in the classroom you will have all kinds of different students that come from different backgrounds and it is important to be able to understand how they feel or what they may be going through.
ReplyDeleteKristen Ahrens
In response to Lennette Gonzales: I agree that college helps to understand different types of people. You get to meet people from all over instead of just people who live close by to the neighborhood you grew up in.
ReplyDeleteHow do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
ReplyDeleteI have been very fortunate in my life. I understand the world threw other peoples experiences. It wasn’t until I got to college did I make friends with people who did not grow up with a similar lifestyle that I had. Back home, my friends and I are very sheltered. For the first time I was more aware of government issues, violence, and poverty. Getting to know new friends and hearing their stories helps me understand the world better. Before, I was so naïve but every day I am learning something new and growing from these experiences.
How do I understand others different from myself?
When I am getting to know someone, I always ask about hobbies they are interested in. I enjoy listening to someone who has different interests than me because I get to ask questions and find out about something I could potentially be into trying. If we have similar activities, it also makes for easy conversation. Sometimes I’ll notice an accent so I will ask questions about where they are from. I am very outgoing and outspoken. Sometimes people are a little taken back by me so I analyze their body language. If i notice the person I’m talking to is more timid or shy than me, I’ll make them feel more comfortable.
-Bri Cerda
How do my experiences influence my understanding of the world?
ReplyDeleteHow do I understand others different from myself?
Questions 2&4
#2) My experiences help me understand the world for a multiple of reasons. I, personally, have had a normal fortunate life. But my loved ones have not been so lucky. In the summer before my Junior Year of High School, my cousin/best friend was in a really bad accident and became paralyzed from the neck down. He was just one year older than me and he had a baseball scholarship and I had a softball scholarship to the University of Houston. After his accident he lost his scholarship and I couldn't accept mine. It would not of been the same following our dreams alone. That experience alone made me realize that the world was a bad place and right when all things are going great and according to plan something gets taken away from you. It took me three years to realize that if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be where I am today. He is recovering rapidly and over time we have came up with new dreams. After getting over the depression and disappointment with the world, I came to realize that the world is a just a place where miracles happen. Everything happens for a reason and it takes time to realize it. Because of this accident, and instead of me and my cousin becoming star athletes, we have a better dream in life thats going to help changes the life's of a bunch of kids around the world. So I think, through this experience that the world works in mysterious ways and has a better path for you then you had planned for yourself and its up to you to figure out where that path may lead too.
#4) I understand people different than myself because I take the time to listen. Where who you are, or where you come from, there are certain people who treated you a certain way or did something to you that influenced who you are today. It doesn't matter whether your a good person or a bad person, all they need is someone to take the time to listen and help them. Listening to someone helps you understand where they come from and how their past life has been. If you just open your ears, you can put someone together just like a puzzle piece. Myself as a person, I have many different personality types and it comes in handy when I am with a variety of people. All I have to do is just be myself and open up with them to figure out what that person is like. Once I figure out how to talk to that person or their interests, its easy to spark a conversation and keep it going.
Commet for Megan R. Gonzales
ReplyDeleteI am a texan from a small town outside Houston, TX and with my dads jobs i have moved 14 times. I agree with how you feel about your community and also your culture identity sounds a lot like mine. So i know where your coming from.
Question 1: What determines my cultural identity?
ReplyDeleteI believe my cultural identity is determined not only by where I’m from but also the language I speak, the traditions I share with my family, my own beliefs and values, where I’ve been, and where I currently reside. I lived in East Texas towns up until I was in fourth grade. At that time my Mother moved my brother and I to Austin. East Texas is very boring so when I moved to Austin I was excited to be introduced to all the joys of living in a “weird” city which happened to fit me perfectly. As a child I was very observant of things going on around me. It was there that I fell in love with music, indie films, and more importantly, not being afraid to be myself. In the seventh grade we moved to San Antonio. At first, I hated San Antonio. Thirteen years, I am in love with San Antonio and its culture. At times I feel segregated from this place I love so much as an English speaker but living here as given me a reason to want to speak Spanish which is something I had no desire for as a teenager. This also led me to travel to Costa Rica and Nicaragua to further broaden my Latin American experiences. Besides this, my family also has instilled my cultural identity. My Mother’s parents are from Mississippi. We place an emphasis on spending time together and most importantly, eating good home cooked meals! My Mother has always been interested in nutrition and gardening. I find myself turning into my mother because I work in the “Healthy Living” section at Central Market selling supplements and my favorite hobby is plants! In fact, I spent a year and a half volunteering on several organic farms in the US and Central America. My cultural identity was created by the places I’ve been and the people around me which all have influenced me to be the person I am today. I believe as I continue on this journey of life my cultural identity will continue to transform.
In response to Genesis Ovando: I like your view on cultural identity and I think you are right!
ReplyDeleteWhat determines my cultural identity are the people, circumstances, ideals and beliefs plus the things surrounding and influencing my life. My cultural identity is also stems around the things, people, circumstances and ideas that I do not surround myself with or don’t allow having access or influence into my life.
ReplyDeleteI try to understand others by picturing anyone that I have contact with as if we are sitting at a round table with place settings for each person that represents that person’s life, circumstances, and experiences – their point of view. And as I sit at that table I am able to spin the table top and bring the other persons table setting to my place which allows me to somewhat experience and understand where they are coming from. I get to eat from their plate and taste their life – to see their point. Then as I understand just where they are coming from and learn of their view point I find myself understanding them more.
Meagan Alessandra Gonzalez’s Reply to Yan’s comment from August 31, 2011
ReplyDeleteDealing with Question #4: How do I understand others differently from myself?
Yan I can see what you mean when you say that you feel different. I too feel different and sometimes I am discouraged from being myself because I don’t agree with being a cookie cutter duplicate of everyone else. In my situation however, I decided at a very young age to do the opposite of stay to myself. I moved many times to different schools and took on the attitude that everything is very temporary. “Life is Change,” is one of my favorite quotes from an old movie I watched in the 90’s, I believe the title was “Mermaids”? Anyways, I believe that this world is so amazing because there are so many different people. No two humans are exactly alike and if someone is not thrilled that I am the way I am then I accept that person’s opinion but do not let them decide or influence who I am. I know I am a loyal friend, loving family member, and honest/hardworking person. As long as I strive to be the best person I can be I am happy. I think you should not feel like you have to shut yourself away from others. Yes, you may meet some unsavory characters every once in a while but if you do not embrace that everyone is completely different you may be missing out on untold personal adventures and memories. This is of course just my opinion, and I hope you continue to stay strong in your beliefs and point of view, this world we live in would not be as interesting if we all didn’t explore ourselves and share a piece of ourselves.
Question 1:
ReplyDeleteI feel my cultural identity is based on two things, my life experiences and my ethnic heritage. I am an African American but I don't feel this title describes my cultural identity. Starting with my life experiences, I was raised in the military and traveled frequently as a child. Growing up I had to learn to adapt to the cultures of where I lived and I carried little "pieces" of each culture with me. My cultural identity is different than that of my family members who remain in the same place.
Ethnically I am black mixed with Indian and White. Though some of my ancestors are African, I consider myself more American than African because I cannot relate to the numerous cultures in Africa. I claim my cultural Identity from my heritage created in this country
I can relate to David B's post because he expressed who even blood relatives can have different cultures. David showed that cultural identity can differ between generations as well as geographical locations.
Question 4-How do I understand people who are different from myself?
ReplyDeleteI think that being able to relate and to understand people who are different than you is a very important quality to possess. We all have different ways of living, cultures, morals, beliefs and different family backgrounds. Trying to understand people who are different from my self is sometimes hard but I try my best to educate myself about different cultural backgrounds so I can better relate and understand where certain opinions and actions stem from. It is especially important for educators to be very aware of the different cultural backgrounds that are being represented in a classroom. For example, a principle told me a story about a teacher who was having problems with an African American student who whenever he knew the answer to something or was excited about something he would jump out of his seat and wave his hands in the air jumping up and down. The teacher could not control the students actions and none of her disciplinary actions seemed to work. She called in the principle and the principle identified the problem right away. She noted that yes this child was African American, most African American's in the area that the school was in attended all black baptist churches every Sunday morning. This child had grown up seeing his parents jumping up and down raising their hands in the air at church every Sunday morning. So in the child's eyes, he was doing no wrong. He was only displaying what he thought was acceptable. I thought this was a great example of how important it is to understand different cultural backgrounds!
I agree with B Lawson that being African American does not describe a cultural identity. So many aspects and experiences of someones life all attribute to his or her cultural identity.