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The role of self-identity in the adolescent life stage
The role of self-identity in the adolescent life stage
The role of self-identity in the adolescent life stage
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“What a nerd.” It’s a repetitive criticism used when tests are returned, and its use frequently works as a puzzle that confuses one’s view of their identity. I, consequently, have suffered greatly from the ridiculous use of this label. Since the beginning of my high school career and possibly even beforehand, I have continually kept with me a persistent impulse for triumph; it has never originated in my mind to disappoint. Throughout my junior high days, this biological compulsion of mine demonstrated itself in a large array of ways: obsession with archaic objects, reciting pi to the 26th decimal place, replaying The Dark Knight on my iPod, checking my grades hourly, and over analyzing numerous things. As my identity shifted, my fascination with science and math flourished, and I found in myself an undeniable pride in being distinct and a desire for pursuing out unusual new ways to define myself. With the fulfillment of my brand-new passion, my distinctive qualities were confined in, and I began high school minus the typical freshman anxiety about getting labeled or categorized. T...
I lived a simple, normal childhood in the company of my family and friends. But I had what one might call “abnormal:” my obsession to finding answers to questions on my own. I refused to listen to what people told me about the world or how they answered my questions. It was not enough. I preferred to seek the knowledge of why the answers were the way they were. I thought that would help me find a true purpose in the simple actions we do throughout our lives. In school as a child, the teachers would struggle trying to keep their patience with me. Through every integral concept we learned in class, I would continue to question my teachers because I was never concerned with “how” we do something, but more about “why” each step in solving a problem is important. Through this process of searching for
It is expected that within a span of four years drastic changes can occur to any person. An example of such case is our experience throughout four years of high school or college; it is a time in which each obstacle that we surpass will become an experience that builds character. We have all left our childhood behind, but we have yet to taste the full essence of adulthood. Within these years of being cast astray to find our own paths, it is common for us students to experience regular episodes of anxiety, stress, and crippling self-doubt.
What is Meno’s Paradox? First, who is Meno? The Meno is one of the earlier Platonic writings, which include Socrates and which look to try to define an ethic, in this case virtue. Meno himself is seemingly a man who is greedy for wealth, greedy for power, ambitious, and a back-stabber who tries to play everything to his own advantage.
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself” (Unkown) High School is a place where many students are classified into different types of cliques. We all have seen different cliques throughout high school, and even in the movies. The different types of cliques in high school would be the popular girls, the jocks, the goths and the nerds. There’s also the thespians and the rockers. Each high school clique has a characteristic that makes their group unique compared to the many other cliques.
Eighth grade was the year where I wanted to finally create a better work-ethic for myself. Even though I had the purest of intents, everything did not go as planned. Of course, a drastic change such as the one I wished to achieve wouldn’t happen overnight, but I had to start somewhere. In the beginning of the year, I would try my best to get a head start on projects whilst putting forth my best effort. I had already started to have a more positive outlook on the year than I ever have before. New opportunities would arise and, for once, I would be able to take them. Along with this, I started to stay true to myself and delve more into my newly formed interests. In the beginning of seventh grade, I had discovered a new passion and eighth grade was the year I finally decided to take some action. Sixth grade me would have never stepped anywhere near a stage, but eighth grade me jumped at every opportunity to help out our theatre department. Having signed up for theatre classes, I was very anxious, but that didn’t stop me from establishing my own confidence to put myself out there. I am most grateful for this change because I have made so many new friends and have shared wonderful experiences with all of them that I will cherish forever. Of course, some friends came and went, but those few who have stuck with me through everything mean the world to me. I still have friends from sixth grade, and I have friends that I made just this year, but they all deeply care for me. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them, as cliche as it sounds. Even though my friend groups may change, all of them have changed me for the
Being a high school student isn’t easy. The classes can be rough, teachers have a reputation of being mean or nice or mean to some and nice to others, and all the while, there’s the question of a girlfriend or boyfriend, who’s having a party tonight, what should be worn, and so on and so on. Adding on the pressure of having to be involved in the right group, and it starts to become stressful. Because if a student isn’t in the right group; then there is nothing to live for. Of course, this is a little over exaggerated, but this is what high school students have to put up with. There is the constant peer pressure to fit in, to be part of the crowd, up until the point where it is almost impossible to be an individual. This is what cliques have done to high schools (Surviving School, 27 October, 2001). They have turned them into places where designer labels rule, and those that don’t fit in, whe...
Going through grade school, achieving ‘A’s meant relying on studying rather than my intelligence. Though not staffed “gifted” like fellow classmates, I was still driven to gain the approval and attention of both my teachers and parents. This motivation kept me focused on completing homework assignments and preparing for tests. In other words, I had no room for slacking off. This challenge to be a superlative scholar is similar to Eudora Welty’s trial of going to the library: “I was willing; I would do anything to read.” She illustrates her commitment to the challenge of reading. Likewise, I was willing to put in as much effort as it took to pull off straight ‘A’s. Moreover, receiving report cards with straight ‘A’s only furthered my ambition. The recognition gained from repeatedly accomplishing that feat proved that hard work did pay off. Continued success as a student has fostered my dedication to maintaining zealous work habits.
My first day as a “high-schooler” was also my first day not going to a Jenks Public School. Transferring schools during possibly one of the most important transitions of my life? Nerve-wracking. But my new school, Holland Hall, quickly became my new home. I was blown away by my unbelievably engaged classmates and supportive teachers. The friends I made there were open minded and creative, and I am proud to say that they have rubbed off on me. Holland Hall taught me how to be engaged both in class and out as well as how to actively seek out the help of my teachers.
As unhealthy as it seems, it’s almost fostered in schools today. Where students in honors classes are held to a higher standard, separated from everyone else who didn’t make the cut. We are a class divided. Walking into the lunchroom, I often feel like a stranger in a class I’ve been a part of since kindergarten. From there I ask myself how I’ll be remembered when I graduate. A superb class ranking? A solid score on a geometry final? My answers were insignificant. What I had been defining myself as throughout my school years had no meaning to the odyssey that is this life.
Despite the jobs that students may have outside of school, their main job is to go above and beyond academically. From visiting their teachers at lunch to spending countless hours studying to pass their next test, being a student is a full time job. Students are expected to not just pass, but to excel. After a long rehearsal or practice one’s first instinct is to relax, however, being exceptional students the grind never ends. High School is the time when students discover the classes they find more interesting and begin finding which careers pique their interest the most. Teacher’s inspire students daily to find a topic they are passionate about and allow them the space to discuss current events. To give them the forum to think critically
My parents’ first priority was enrolling me into the greatest and foremost high-class school for my further studies to be continued. Moving to America, indeed creating a far more successful future for me, several fears stayed crossing my mind day and night as I thought about my classmates, and how accepting each one would be regarding the “new girl” and her differences. Never ending questions in my mind led me to over think about how well things would go on the first day, carrying on the first year of school. “What will the academic level be like? Will people value my presence or will I be another invisible soul, wandering the halls, catching no attention
Amidst all the recurrent pandemonium, I usually attempt to sort out seemingly basic questions on who I am, what I believe in, and what matters to me the most. In high school I felt like a drawing without color and I had begun to entertain the idea, that perhaps in college, I’d have more initiative to flesh out my blueprint with shades I’d feel personally content with, not what most may find flattering. In my recent opinion, college is the perfect place to immerse yourself in self-discovery. It’s a brand new start. You can wear what you like, pick the classes you’re truly interested in, and take risks that will shape your future. You don’t have to sport a mold that seems to fit others, let your major define you, be a stereotype, or prove yourself to anyone other than you. It’s this sense of newfound freedom that will contribute to the beginning of my identity confirmation. The achievements and the distressing regrets I’ll make as a young woman and a student in college will guide me on my soul search as I wade through the murky waters of self-discovery, and that in itself makes college worth a
You know, it is really strange how quickly time passes, after spending my whole childhood wishing I was an adult, now here we are and it's a little hard to grasp. It feels like just yesterday I was standing here in the same position at eighth grade graduation. Ahh, middle school, such a joyous time for all of us, free of maturity and not a care in the world. The biggest decisions I ever had to make then was deciding which group to stand with at passing time and choosing which shirt from my extensive collection of Stussy and No Feat apparel to wear. We were all naive to the danger that lurked just around the corner. We were unaware that the carefree world we lived in was about to come crashing to the ground in a blazing inferno of real school work and responsibility ... otherwise known as high school.
Having spent twelve years of my school life in just one small red brick building, the years tend to fade into each other. But the year I remember most clearly and significantly is my senior year of high school, where I finally began to appreciate what this institution offered to any student who stopped to look. Before, school had been a chore, many times I simply did not feel motivated toward a subject enough to do the homework well, and seeing the same familiar faces around ever since I was 5 years old grew very tiring soon enough. But I began to see things from a different angle once I became a senior.
Graduation: the last day that I would unwillingly set foot on the fields of Horizon High School. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest, and tried so hard to keep my feet moving one after the other in order to maintain my perfect stature. After the two hour wait of opening speeches, class songs, and the calling off of the five hundred plus names that were in front of me, it was finally my turn. As my row stood up and we walked towards the stage it had set in at last, this is it, I am done. My high school career ended on that night, but it didn’t close the book that is my life, it only started a new chapter, and with it came a whole slue of uncertainties.