Factors That Shape Our Identity Throughout Life
Growing up in a household that had various cultural backgrounds always made me compare myself to those outside of my home. It was tough growing up and not really knowing where I fit in. To some people, particularly my black family, I was not “black” enough to be into rap and hip-hop, to wear eccentric hairstyles, or relate to social injustices. To others, I was not “Dominican” or “Spanish” enough to like Spanish music or to engage in conversation because I didn’t speak their preferred language. In reality, both sides of my family all told me that I was too into “white culture” or “white” things because I have always gone to a predominantly white school. I have never quite understood what “white culture” is, but my family has always linked me to it. Although I have never been able to fully relate to either side of my family, it has definitely shaped who I am today.
Many, like myself, have struggled to find their identity and struggled between two or more identities. Some are very insecure with themselves whether it’s their own image, society’s version, or a combination. I had a hard time coming to terms with my racial identity as a kid and a teenager. I knew what I was, I knew what my parents were, but I did not know how I could be who I was without constantly having to explain myself. I would tell people, from time to time, that I was just Dominican, or that I was just Black, but it was always followed by questions similar to “What are you mixed with?” or statements along the lines of “You’re too pretty to be just Black. ” These questions forced me to sit back and think about who I was. “Who am I?” “What is my identity?” these are the two questions I often ask myself.
To me, identity can be defined as who you are or what makes you different from others. There is something that makes me different from the next. I’ve come to understand that identity is a sum of all that I have seen, experienced, and learned from my surroundings. Identity is influenced by many factors, with some more obvious than others. Gender and ethnicity are the most obvious traits to recognize, which leads other contributing factors to be overlooked, for example, culture. Culture plays a large role in each person’s identity but because it cannot be seen when just looking at an individual it goes unnoticed.
Every single person has a unique identity. Family, culture, friends and surrounding environments are important elements that shape who you are. When I look back, I feel that learning from different cultures has helped me in shaping my true identity. The process of discovering one’s identity is seemingly unending. Just when you think you know who you are, or have figured out your place in the world, things change and you find yourself back at square one. As of now, I know who I am. I am Ryan.
