Identity Is Never Static

“Identity is never static, always in the making, and never made.” Michael Wood’s words

perfectly describe the relevance of change regarding one’s character and personal identity. An individual is not, and never will be constant, inconsistently changing at any given moment, but regularly being affected by the people and things around them. Therefore, who a person is and who they will become can be greatly influenced by the external factors that they are exposed to. Their interests and general beliefs, family, and culture and time period all contribute and transform their character, and who they will become.

Firstly, a person’s beliefs and interests can greatly change their lifestyle, bringing more focus and priority to the events or activities that they love. Someone who enjoys watching and playing hockey may spend their time more uniquely, unlike someone who enjoys ballet, which affects the opportunities they are exposed to. On the other hand, certain religions and doctrines limit various acts and ultimately change the way a person lives their lives. For example; the

Jewish law, also referred to as the Halakhah, gives Jewish people many restrictions, affecting how they perceive certain everyday tasks. They have to eat specific foods, retain a limited clothing choice, and treat others very differently than Christians do. All of these statements show how a person’s beliefs and interests ultimately change their identity. The next important external factor related to one’s character, is their family and immediate surroundings.

A person’s family and the people that they grow up with certainly influence their behavior and interpretation.

As a child, a person becomes dependent towards their parents and believes their guardians are the most important. In this way, a child could become biased and assume that what their family says is always accurate, even in the most extreme circumstances. If someone were to grow up in an abusive household, they certainly would have a different lifestyle than others, and they might expect a traditional family to behave in the same way as they do. As an unknown author stated, “Memories are the architecture of our identity”. The people that we surround ourselves with create recollections and nostalgia that stick with us forever, and if their effect on our lives is negative, our memories may become tainted and difficult to overcome. Family is a very critical aspect that determines one’s

existence.

Finally, the last constant factor that changes a person's identity is the culture and time period they were born in or around. Like depicted in ‘The Outsiders’, the ideas and values of the community that one is immersed in can drastically change the way both themselves and others perceive each other. For example, the 1960’s were filled with interesting slang, unique social groups and wacky clothing, all contributing to how the people back then behaved and survived. People that belonged to different social groups would not integrate, giving both sides a very different influence on their character and lifestyle. Culture also greatly impacts a person’s distinctiveness. Each unique class has it’s own ceremonies and traditions, playing a part in how a person, of that race, lives their daily lives and alters the overall identity and personality of an individual. Therefore, culture and time period add to the many aspects that constitute one’s identity.

Identity is a very important part of our lives, and without it, our existence would become dull and mundane. An individual lives a life of constant change, becoming different and unique at any given moment, and rarely conforming to stereotypes. Though, a person can still become affected by foreign factors. Therefore, the external segments of a person's life drastically change their attitude, lifestyle, and personality. As said throughout this article; interests and beliefs, family and culture and time period genuinely affect a person’s identity. In conclusions, although many different factors contribute to one’s being and character, the external aspects have the greatest influence.