My Cultural Identity

My cultural identity, as I know is Mexican American because both my parents are born in Mexico and I was born here. I can also be defined as a Chicana because that is another way used to call a Mexican American. My culture can be seen in so many different ways like for example it can be seen in food, music, religion, dance, art, festivals, and even more. Most of these traditions have changed a little bit over time as they were brought to the U.S. What I mean by that is that some of those traditions were brought from Mexico, and had a little change into them because they were combined with some traditions that have already been here in the U.S.

Most people call me Colby, but on the field i'm know as number 40. Soccer has been a part of my life since I was 3, my 12 years of experience have influenced how I act, what I eat and most aspects of my life-like who I hang out with and what I dislike. In the United states especially, sports are a huge part of everyone's cultural identity. With all this in mind I would call my cultural identity a soccer game. It can change in a blink of the eye but is consistent through life.My family is like the other players, education is like the field and my hobbies are like the ball.

What is my cultural identity? Personally, I don’t think I am completely assured on what my cultural identity is, but I can do my best on explaining it. However, I won’t get started on that yet, first I’ll explain the occasion of me learning about my identity. At almost the beginning of the year, it was announced in our English class that we would be doing an essay on our cultural identities. When my teacher announced this I thought to myself, “What in the world is a cultural identity, or even my cultural identity?” In these months, we have gotten to learn the definition of culture, and what it means to us, individually., I believe that culture means a group of people that share the same customs, way of life, and beliefs. Also, over these last couple of months we have been reading texts all about people knowing and understanding their cultural identities, meanwhile I still didn’t understand my own. All I know is that I was born on February 11, 2002, I like movies and music, and my mom is from Chile and my Dad is from Virginia. Now that didn’t feel like enough for me to write on, but then I started thinking about all of the cultural differences that my parents have had raising me as a person, and how those have all combined to make me. In my short 15 years of life, the culture clashes have sometimes affected me on my thoughts and opinions, which I’ll talk about later on. As well as how movies and music have affected my perspectives and opinions.

Charles F. Glassman once said, “In a few seconds, we judge another person and think we know them. When, the person we’ve lived with the longest, we still don’t know very well- ourselves.” Writing about my values has gave me a better understanding of who I am. I now understand the several ways my culture has shaped me to become who I am. My cultural autobiography will allow me to reveal who I truly am by understanding my cultural identity. My cultural identity is the combination of my worldview and values as well as my position in the eight microcultures.

In my life I experienced many things and the most important thing that I learn is that life is like a box of chocolate . I say that life is like a box of chocolate like Forrest Gump said because, you never know what’s planned for you next. You don’t know if you're going to get a good outcome, or a bad outcome because it’s different flavors in chocolate. My freshman year of highschool I was lacking not doing my work and just slacking but, now I regret it because freshman year is the most important year of your high school years . In these 17 years of my life, it been has been like a box of chocolate I never knew what was going to be the outcome of me making the the decision I made my freshman year. If I would’ve did better my freshman year it wouldn’t be so hard how it was my 10th grade year.

When I think of the word “cultural identity”, I think of myself, and what makes up who I am as a person. My cultural identity influences everything about me, from the moment I wake up, to the minute I rest my head on my pillow at night. My culture influences the way I eat, speak, worship, and interact with people. However, I am not only affected by my own culture, but others’ culture as well. I am fortunate to have an extremely rich heritage, and I couldn’t be prouder of my cultural identity.

“Dale, dale, dale, No pierdas el tino; Porque si lo pierdes, Pierdes el camino”. The classic piñata song that is sung at parties. It translates to “Go, go, go, don't lose your aim; because if you lose it, you will lose your path.” The phrase ties in with my identity because of my cultural background and experiences at parties. Who am I? What is my cultural identity? The questions that have me trying my best not to have an existential crisis. I am a Mexican American, my parents were born in Jalisco and I was born in California. As for my cultural identity, I am a NSHS student that has been shaped by music, technology, and sports.

What do you think of when someone asks you what culture is? Some may say the differences of a nation, social class, color, race and religion. This is Google's version of culture: “the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.” I am a boy of many secrets or personalities and I have a different cultural identity from everyone else, there is no such thing as two individuals having the same cultural identities. Every trait that you have makes up your cultural identity. Our parents may have forced us to develop certain traits, for example my teacher says that I am hardworking due to me always wanting more and more work, but sometimes we develop traits ourselves, sometimes good or bad and those traits make us, us. I have three main aspects of my cultural identity and those three aspects are

¨Pereme-what? That is the weirdest and longest last name i've ever heard of! Where do people get last names like that?¨ My answer? Well, my grandfather is from Siberia, but my family just consider ourselves Russian. Actually not long ago my dad had told me about a city in Russia called Peremyshl, my great great grandparents, as I was told, are from there, Peremyshl is in the Kaluga Oblast near Moscow. And because of my ethnic background, I go to my church's youth, our youth really likes to go and hang out at the park or go someplace else and play volleyball.

One of my lifelong challenges has been navigating my cultural identity. Growing up in Southern California in an Indian-American household, I was more “Westernized” than my other similarly situated Indian friends. At the same time, my upbringing as a child of immigrant parents made me different than other Americans.

A symbol that reflects my personal cultural identity is liquor. It reflects my personal cultural identity because everyone in my family drinks a lot. They drink for celebration, hard times, devastating disastrous times when we suffer the loss of a family member and just because. Liquor is also a symbol because certain types of liquor reminds me of certain family members and the good times we had together, but also the atrocious barbaric times. For example, when I see a Miller Light can I think of my uncle John and my cousin Mercy. It reminds me of the times we go to Mexican Fiesta together or Summerfest where we would dance fool around and have a good time. When I see a Budweiser I think of my Grandfather and my Father because it is their

influenced my cultural identity and how I see myself? I address the complexity of my racial

Using the diagram you developed in class (in response to Exercise 10.7) discuss your own cultural and ethnic identity in terms of your values, beliefs and attitudes. During your discussion you should refer to the theoretical framework provided by either Hofstede or Trompenaars.

Prompt 2: Tell us about a location, real or fictional, that has shaped you in a meaningful way.

I am born of cultural identity but only I am me. Cultural identity is a part of person’s self-concept and self-perception. It is equivalent to nationality, religion, ethnicity, social class, and different generations. Cultural identity has to do with a person individually or socially. Everyone has a cultural identity. Knowing her you come from can give you a sense of belonging and a sense of self. My culture identity is composed of several factors. Cultural identity is a part of who I am. It has shaped aspects of my personality, my beliefs and values. It is a factor in how I dress, how I behave and my hopes and dreams for the future. My hijab and my personality shape my cultural identity; however, my cultural identity portrayed by the media does not influences me as person.