Monday, October 22, 2012
Period 3, Blog for Week of 10/21
Topic 3: The Development of Identity
Directions: In a comment, respond to the prompt below in 300+ typed words. Also be sure to respond to a classmate's comment so that we can keep our classroom conversation going.
"A person does not simply 'receive' his or her identity. Identity is much more than the name or features one is born with. True identity is something people must create for themselves by making choices that are significant and that require a courageous commitment to in the face of challenges. Identity means having ideas and values that one lives by." -Thomas Merton, Contemplation in a World of Action
Using examples from literature, history, science, film, and/or your own experiences, write a response in which you develop your point of view as to whether identity is something people are born with or given or if identity is something people create for themselves.
Be sure to answer all parts of the question fully. Your comment/response to my prompt should be 300+ words. Your comment/response to a friend should be 50+ words. Your blog entries must be completed by 11:59 pm on October 21, 2012.
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Kyle Maslen
ReplyDelete10/25/12
Ms. Orlowsky
Period 3 Language Arts
Blogger Essay
I believe that Identity is something some creates for themselves, for various reasons. Sometimes you know people for what they do, what they wear, and all that other stuff. In my perspective, I believe that it counts as an identity because it’s not what you think of them, it’s actually what they do that could make them have their identity. Many other people could disagree with me, and have more facts then me, but that won’t change the way I feel about this because I have actually stuck with this answer for a long time. In my life, a thing that has happened to me is that my sister acts and dress like a mean kid. So in my point of view, I find her to be a mean person due to the way she treats/acts around me and many other people. Sometimes the situation could be different and it could go the other way, identity being something that you end up being born with. A big portion of the students born on this planet are born the same way, but you don’t see every single person acting the same way. If we did, then I would think that it is something people were born with their identity. I know myself that there are many other situations that this could pop up, but nothing really changes my mind. Obviously people on the Earth are born with their identity, because they don’t try to copy anyone. Also they don’t try to be someone they’re not because then that wouldn’t make them born with the identity they have in today’s world. When people that you know are mean themselves but say they’re one of the nicest people they have ever met, I say no because you’re not how you think you are.
Very good essay Kyle. I definitely agree that people are born equal and they have to earn their identity.Identity is not something you can just got you have to earn it. Very good Kyle keep up the good work.
DeleteWas a really good essay i do think most people create themselves a identity which is cause by how they act.Keep up the good work.
DeleteI agree that people are born with an identity. Although, I also think that other people are a big influence on our identities as well.
DeleteJason Brucker
ReplyDelete10-26-12
English 9, Period 3
Ms. Orlowsky
Blogger
I truly believe that identity is something that you earn. For example, actors are know for acting in movies, shows and more. For me identity means that you actually show who you are. It is not because of your name because that does not matter. What matters is how the person really is in the inside. The way you act or the choices you make really show your inner self. Everyone is born the same way and you have to make choices in life to show your identity. Some people know me for being very funny but some of my friends don’t even know how I feel. I am very nice, funny, and kind and people see me that way. If you are bad your identity to everyone is your mean, bad and would not want to be with. Sometimes I base my friendship on identity. Or when I meet someone new I need to know their I identity first. I want someone who is nice, caring, and fun to be with. I would not want any kind of friend that would stab me in the back. Or is mean to all my other friends. Picking friends that are mean to your friends can make your friends think that you are a bad person and have a bad identity. That would put you in a bad situation if people saw you like you would want to hang out with bad people. Most people see me as funny, kind, and fun to be with and that is my identity. I earned it and people like me for that. I like friends that are just like me. Even if they are not exactly like me I still like them for their identity as a good person.
Very good Jason. I also believe that your identity is not your name it is what you are like in the inside. I agree that it is good to have friends who are like you and are kind, funny, and smart in the inside. I would also like to associate myself with people who have good qualities.
Deletevery good Jason. I also believe that your identity is the way that you act and the choices that you made. i would also like a friend that is nice caring and fun. if you are a good person i would like to associate myself with you, and some of your good qualities I could get from you.
DeleteI agree with you Jason your identity is something you earn. But Jason I know you fairly well and i'd agree you are a very kind guy funny to and im happy to be able to call you my friend. Keep thinking the way you do its a greeat attitude amd i know you'll go far in life.
DeleteThat was very well written Jason. I liked your example with the actors it helped me understand what you were trying to say. Also the example about how you pick your friends was also a great help for me to understand. Over all I agree with you Jason. Keep up the great writing!
DeleteIn my opinion I believe that you are born with equal identity like everyone else.I think you can develop a new identity when you get older as to what you do,what you like, and how you act, but these aren't the things that make the main thing about you from when you were born.Some people I see are called name that give them and identity to which they like or don't like depending are how they act. This identity is to the people that call you it though so it doesn't mean that much to which if you gave yourself an identity that people know. It proves that some people care about identity while others don’t. I have seen many movies in which the people don't care about how people view them as long as they know who they are and like how they are. People can then “make” a identity in which a lot of people will know you as. Most people will care about how people view them while some people don’t care at all. This can relate to the movie Fast and Furious when Dom was wanted the and pinned by a lot of people thinking he was a bad guy he wasn't he just wanted a nice life style. Even though many people didn't like him he did not care since he had many friend who did care and liked his identity to which they know him as. The movie Fast and Furious is a good example on how it plays out and how people think of him.Which therefore shows my opinion is right in some ways on how you act people can make identities for you that you may or may like.In this movie he did not like it that much but did not care.This is my opinions and beliefs on identity.
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DeleteGlen I think your response was perfect. You answered every part of the question with splendid details to back it up. I definitely agree with your relation to the movie fast and furious. I agree that identity is what people are known for. Some care about what people think about them and many others don't. Well Said.
I believe that identity is something you create for yourself. Yes, everybody is born with certain genes and features from their parents and ancestors, but people also differ on the inside. I have noticed that on the outside I have features that resemble my family members. However, I am quite different on the inside and I think differently than my family and friends. I believe that I am a kind, funny and smart person and these are some of the characteristics that make up my identity. Identity comes from the inside out. It is who you are and what you are made of. No one can change that! As you grow older you experience more and start to make more choices. I believe those experiences and choices mold our personalities and create our identity. When people hear the word identity, they usually think of a person's appearance and then judge that person based on only their external features. That is superficial! If you dig a little deeper by talking and get to know a person, you would realize that people are not always who you think they are. Never judge a book by it's cover! Unfortunately, many people in this world make bad choices and then experience negative consequences. However, there are also plenty of people who make good decisions and experience good outcomes. I think people should always make good decisions because it turns you into a better person and forms a better and stronger identity. I have been through many situations in my life where I have made good choices and I believe that is what makes me a good person. Also, I have observed people make bad choices. For example, Amanda Todd was a victim of bad identities. The people who bullied her made bad decisions and ultimately contributed to her death. Lastly, maybe Amanda would still be alive today if just one person stood up for what is right and said, "This is wrong, Stop it"! The choices we make not only create our identity but also effect everyone around us.
ReplyDeleteThis was really good and i agree. people arent born with identities they have to create it themselves. I also agree that we are born with genes and stuff but its not our true identities. And i liked all your details that you put into your story. I also agree that the people we spend time with are the people that make our identities.
DeleteI like yours a lot because it’s very well said. Also it explains very well how people gain identities by themselves. I like how you say no one can change who you are because I strongly believe that too. You have made me realize that the choices we make can make up our identity and can effect many other people around us.
DeleteI think identity is something that someone creates for themselves. It cant be something people are born with because as a baby they havent experienced anything in life. When they get older that is when they start to see the shades of colors. People get their identites from other human beings. It depends what group they hangout with. By this I mean the type of people they are. For example if the person is hanging out with a bad group of people know for doing bad and idiotic things they are going to be known for this as well. If a person hangs out with a group of people that always do their work and are good people then they are probably the same.
ReplyDeleteHanging out with a certain type of group isnt always the cause. It can also be the family. If the family is a problematic type of family then the child will probably end up being shy and antisocial tht keeps everything to themselves. If the family has problems one in a while but is a pretty good one then the child will be average or nice. If the family is extremely over protective then the child will probably want to be rebelious and wouldnt want to live the life they have. It doesnt always have to be the cliques it can also be the families that the people live with in their households.
There was a movie I saw a while ago. I dont remember the name but it had to do with his identity. He was a boy from texas. He had the best grade and was one of the best students in all of the state. He also had a pretty girlfreind that he loved so much. He also lived in a big house but it all changed. One day he gets home and hears bad news that his dad got into a car accident and died. His mom didnt have enough money to pay for the house so they had to move to another state and downgrade to a cheap hotel. He left behind everything and went to a new hotel. He didnt fit in well and the pressure got to him. He became a bad kid because he hung out with the wrong group of people. He also got caught for a lot of stuff because the freinds blamed it on him. In the end he gets shot.
Identity is definitely something that people create for themselves because as you’re raised by parents and grow up seeing the world opinions, thoughts, and ideas change and eventually you will create your own identity. I like this blog because I see it all the time in my anime shows. The other blogs I had a little more trouble relating to. An example of people gaining identity for themselves is from one of my favorite series No.6 (number 6). I like this series a lot because of its story line and characters, specifically the character named Nezumi; which also means “rat” in Japanese. Okay now getting to the point, Nezumi has had a peaceful life until the rulers of a futuristic city called “No.6” destroyed and burned down his home and killed his entire race of people at a young age at maybe 9 years old. After the destruction of his home he has become the sole survivor of his people. He was then taken to the city’s correctional faculty where he had to endure harsh treatment and learn the will of survival. When he was 12 years old he had finally found a way to escape the correctional faculty and run lose in the city, where his soon to become friend Shion lives. When he escaped he was hunted down, shot in the shoulder, and running about the city in a huge storm trying to find some sort of shelter. After hours of losing blood and being drenched from the rain Nezumi was starting to give up on living until a 12 year old boy named Shion found him, took him into his home, and treated his wounds. Shion doesn’t know the horrors of the city he is living in so when he meets Nezumi he starts to get the idea that No.6 isn’t to be trusted. They soon became very good friends and after Nezumi spent the night at Shion’s he soon left in the morning finding refuge in a place on the outskirts of the city’s walls called the “West District”. What makes the story really interesting is that 4 years later Nezumi returns to the city to return the favor to Shion for saving him. I don’t want to write anything else about No.6 because then I’ll get off topic, but I’m having a lot of fun explaining it. Anyway; from this experience Nezumi has learned that people are able to help other people in even the cruelest and vulnerable situations. Nezumi was able to find his identity when his home was destroyed, when he was taken in to the correctional faculty, and when he met his friend Shion. I’m sure most people find their identity in much less suspenseful ways, but this is the best example I can think of. (Sigh~ I love this show XD).
ReplyDeleteThe one place that shaped my identity, the most, would be next door, at Jacobs’s house. Even though Jacob was 3 years older than me, he was my best friend. I started hanging out with him since I could remember. I was upset that his mother made him move to the Philippines, to learn about his heritage and go to school. He has been there for the past 4 years. He only comes back about once a year. When he came back, this past time, he looked completely different. I told him what I finally realized. I told him that he shaped my identity. He helped me become a better person. I use to always ask for help in any way I could. I would wine whenever I wanted something. He would just tell me, “ I don’t know, figure it out yourself”, and those words made me who I am today. He would test me in every shape and form. And, because of that, he made me who I am. Now I don’t give up on the first try. I will give 100% in any challenge. One challenge I remember is when he buried me from my neck down, in a hole. I had to get out myself, with no help. I was able to, but it took time. Even when we played video games, if I didn’t know how to get to or through a level, he would make me think of how to do it on my own. He taught me how to think out of the box. That honestly really made me who I am today, because I am able to figure out so many things on my own. I also remember that when he came back home this last time, I showed him a place that was so huge you couldn’t miss it. I have been going out there for about a year now and I thought I did everything you could possible do. However, again, he showed me things I would have never thought of. After really thinking about this, I am very grateful to have a friend like Jacob. I look forward to him coming back every year.
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ReplyDeleteA person does not simply “receive” their identity. When you are born, you have no identity,not even a name. As you grow your identity will form in the direction you lead it. If identity was given the world would be totally different. You would be told who you are and what you like. Therefore its better to know that we have the freedom to become who we want to be. Identity can be good or bad. If you decide to make bad decisions and grow down the wrong path,people will you see with a bad identity or personality. Many people have heard the common quote” Don't judge a book by its cover” I think this quote is a good way to respond to this blog. For example, when you meet someone new,whether a friend or a new family member its not safe to call them a friend. In my opinion,i don't consider many people my friends. Many may think im their friend but im not. In order to consider someone my “friend” they have to have built themselves a good identity. I want my life to surround with great identity so I can learn of off that. Good identity, is someone is who has respect and someone you can trust wont turn on you. Someone can act so nice to you but on the inside they might have dirty ideas. An Identity I would trust would be someone with kindness,sympathy,respect,courage. Everyone of these traits are what makes someone identity a good one. These are the people I consider my friends. On the other hand, there are other people with a horrible identity. There are people who are nasty,disrespectful,all worried about themselves. Criminals have a bad identity, the have no respect for their country or the laws around them. There were worried about benefiting themselves in a way. For example, people are robbing banks just to make “themselves” rich. Identity is very important to a person,and I believe everyone in period 3 has a great identity,including Ms.Orlowsky.
P.s Stay safe from hurricane sandy!
I liked how descriptive you were in your responce. You gave great reasons, and I agreed with most of the things you said. Identity is very importsnt in a person just like you had said.
DeleteA person does not simply receive his or her identity, a person most work to get his true identity , something most happen in their life's to know what is their true identity, for example a baby is not going to have a identity because he has not had any experience in the world , as time goes by he or she will know their identity.
ReplyDeletein my life a thing that has happen to me and that tell me that a identity is how you act is a story that happen to my friend which is one time he was dating a girl the next day I saw him kissing another girl , I thought that he broke up with the other girl but he didn't. The next day the two girls were fighting because they thought that the other one was kissing his boyfriend, when I saw then fighting I separate them, I ask then why were they fighting and they told me the whole story and I told them that he was playing with them, they thought I was laying. we started talking and after about a hour they finally realize that he wasn't wore it the next day the two girl slap my friend he acted all innocent but he knew why they slap him, his face was red he try to say ''sorry'' the girls didn't listen to him the next day the hole school knew that he is cheater he didn't when to school for a week he was really ashamed when he finally came back no one talk to him they wouldn't even look at him. now everyone knew him as a ''skunk bag''.
another example is actor you probably won't remember his name or hers but in whatever movie you see him you will remember him as the valiant or the good guy.
To start off, I that identity is something you are born with, and it can change as you experience life. During life,you got through certain expieriences, and obsticles. And based on that, that is how your true idetity builds up. I am saything this because I know. Certain things that've happened in my life changed who I am today. Those things are positive, and negative. But, it is no always you that changes your identity. Someone else in your life could have done something that affects how people look at you, or even how you look at yourself. That is mostly what happened with me. In the past, I got bullied in many ways. I changed a lot about myself, because of those people. And I realized that if I didn't change myself, I would be stuck miserable all of the time. And being bullied changed my identity. People look at me in a different way, and I even look at myself in a different way. And, I amm glad that happened because I am satisfied with what I am now. It doesn't always matter how you appear to other people. I learned a lot of things on my own in life, and I learn new things everyday.
ReplyDeleteSome people may shape their identity through lifestyle. Every family uses their own methods, and has their own traditions and ways of doing things. Your family could possibly follow a certain religion, or just certain traditions that shape you. Identity is exactly what a person is. It can always be built on.
Identity is an odd topic in mypoint of view. I agree that identity is something you must earn though actions and choices. But some people figure your identitty is on how you look or how your elders or relatives act your the same way. I use to think like that about my good friend Bocephus beofre we really met. In New York i had many friends and each one i became friends with left a different mark in my life. My friend Bo was a not a quite kid he was out going and a bit loud. I had learned from a friend a few of his relatives had done really bad and had served time in jail. So for awhile i thought Bo was a bad person until i got to know him. I had a project for math and we got partners mine was Bo after trying to avoid it i accepted it and was ready to do all the word. But i didnt we helped out so much and i learned he was a genuienly nice guy. His life was a bit rocky from experience but he didnt let them get to him. But whats weird was he thought i was a bad person unloyal uncaring and i was only acting nice so he'll do the project. But after about a year he still didnt trust me didnt share many details because he felt i was still a bad person. This next part i swear on my life is true Bo was in an accident that raveged his body in thrid degree burns all over his back and arms. Almost everyday i went to the hospital and waited around in his room or outside it waiting for him to recover. Because wether he thought it or not he was my friend and friend stand by each other till the end. After he was able to go home going to school wouldnt be for awhile so most days i wnet over and kept him company and didnt what i could to help. The hardest this I have ever had to do was hold his hand well they removed his bandages cleaned the wounds and rebandaged him. Some people might think thats weird but his was my friend and he asked me to help him through it and i did. But it made me feel good about myself knowing that he had changed his view on me and wanted me by his side though the worst of pain And i was people looked at me in a different light after that but I didnt do those things bevause I had to for show or becasue i felt sorry and even now i feel odd saying this story thinking people will think of me differently. But im not i didnt what I did because i chose to and I do it for anyfriend because thats just who i am and nothing will ever change that.
ReplyDeleteI believe a person creates his or her own identity by how they act. I say this because people are confronted with problems on a day to day basis. But it’s how we solve these problems that not only shows our true identity but defines it. There are many ways a person can solve a problem. It all depends on how you access the problem. For example one day my friend and I found a cat pinned under a small tree. It was too heavy for us to lift. So I got to thinking on other ways we could free the cat. Then an idea hit me. I took a strong branch and used it as a crowbar to lift the tree in the air. Then the cat ran off into the woods. I use this as an example because it shows how I solve problems. I'm not very strong so I use my mind to solve most of my problems. This shows that my identity is more about using one’s mind then using one’s physical abilities.
ReplyDeleteI find it fascinating how people can choose what their identity’s are. I say this because we don’t choose our identity consciously we do it without even trying. We don’t stop and think “I wonder what I should make my identity be.” It’s not that easy. We do it without thinking. It’s just one of those things people know how do like breathing or eating. It just comes naturally to us. That’s what I find so fascinating about it. Then if people could understand the process of picking our identity then there would be so much more good in the world. I believe people don’t want to be evil they just lose sight of the good that they once strove for. So if people could understand how important their choices are to their identity they would make better choices to solve their problems and not lose sight of their good.
I think someone makes their own identity with the choices they make throughout their lives. Some people want to be like others so they mimic someone else’s personality. Although you make your own identity people can help you form it. Parents usually help a child become their own person and help them make their identity. Identity isn’t something your born with you need to earn it. Some people are known for certain things and that is what makes their identity. A person’s identity shows who they are and what they do. If you’re not the nicest of people then people see your identity as a mean or cold hearted person. Many people judge others just by their identity and if their don’t like it then they don’t like the person. Although some peoples identity’s come off as mean or strange it doesn’t mean that their a bad person. An example of an identity is, one day me and my friends found a wallet on the street and we looked inside and it had a bunch of money and a couple of credit cards. We looked for the driver’s license and found out where the person lived. We walked down to their house and returned their wallet with everything inside. That’s an example of a good identity, or personality. There are many different types of identity’s, what is yours?
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