My Influences. As I Consider The People, Places, And Cultural

John Lubbock, the British naturalist and politician, wrote, “Your character will be what you yourself chose to make it.” Many influences try to change who someone is, but their own decisions and traits is what defines them. One’s character traits can be expressed in their own actions and words they say to others. People chose their own character traits because everyone is different, makes his/her own choices, and has a unique personality.

In this world we live in, people are easily influenced by others. What or whoever influences you, that becomes a part of your identity. Having an identity is what makes you who you are. A person’s choice in music, clothes, cars, their environment, social life all influence your personality.

I was brought up to follow the “Golden Rule,” to treat others the way you would want to be treated. When my parents would socialize me around my family and other people, they taught me not judge people or to make fun of others because we are all different. Growing up my grandfather and his best friend were both left disable after their accident. My parents socialized me around him a lot, that’s all I ever knew. It taught me that we are all different, but should all be treated the same because he still could do everything we could. As an American child individualism and equality was drilled into my brain, it was just something that you did in your everyday life. It taught me that you do create your own density and you never let anything slow you down. These values are very important to me and my family as well.

Since the beginning of time, the environment in which one is accustomed to provides them with the choices that lead down paths that make their legacy. This environment can be negative or positive, structured or chaotic, rich or poor, all which give a variety of choices. Regardless of the different trials and tribulations we face ultimately, it is the choices we make in response that make us the person we become.

John Lubbock once stated, “Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it.” This was 100% correctly said because there’s no other you. No one else can possibly make decisions for you. Our character is not formed by influences beyond our control, because those influences do not define us. They don't define who we really are.

I was able to compare my own experience of moving from Guatemala to his journey towards the United States. The reason I mention health disparities is because it greatly impacted our lives. For example, I lived with a supportive family, inside of a safe neighborhood, and given an opportunity of excellent education. Luis, on the other hand, was involved in a gang affiliated family, an unsafe neighborhood, and given low quality education. The opportunities I was given was the chance of getting a free degree from a college in Roswell, I was taught good morals such as independance and determination, a full time job with benefits, and although it’s indirect, the health disparities I was involved in is what helped me to achieve these opportunities to a positive future. The same applies to Luis, but he managed to overcome the obstacles that came with the terrible environment he was involved in and managed to become a good example for not just his family, but others who read this story who may be influenced. Perhaps one day I could write a story of my own about my experiences in order to reach out to my generation, just as Luis

Anything you do makes you change who you are. Even what happens in your life can affect your choices you make that shape your identity.

The actions made in the past can determine the course of your life. Even the choices that weren't your own.

John Lubbock wrote, "Your character will be what you yourself choose to make it." This is a great opinion, but I also have an opinion of my own. I personally feel that experiences shape you into who you are. Every situation you go through impacts your life in many different ways. One small decision can change your life forever.

There are many factors that shape us into who we are, and who we will become. Some of these factors we can control, while others we cannot. While we are born into many traits of our identities, much of our other behavior is learned. My identity, for example, is “based not only on responses to the question ‘Who am I?’ but also on responses to the question ‘Who am I in relation to others?’” (Allen, 2011, p. 11). My identity and the question of who I am, are both influenced by many aspects of my life, including my hometown, my family, my friends, and my beliefs and moral values.

Mom lost her job, father lost a great deal of money, my brother lost his car. We couldn’t get what we wanted anymore. Father was struggling with his job as people began to panic. The first couple of years wasn’t as bad. We lost a few things but we were getting by. That was until our home was being taken away. We were kicked out and had no place to go. My father had found out about a place called Hooverville. It was a place for people who were homeless. When we went there it wasn’t exactly at all what I expected. There were tiny little shacks made out of scraps of metal and glass. We weren’t entirely fond of it but we had to make

“You are a product of your environment.” W Clement Stone emphasized this, stating that we are made who we are from what whe experience. I grew up with different cultures, one being Mexican, the other American. Along with this, my parents had opposing social, political and religious beliefs. Due to a cultural contrast and a mix, I am able to recognize disparities which paved the way for my passion in social activism, and religious independence.

There are many factors that go into defining where we end up. Two of the biggest factors that go into defining who we become are our backgrounds and our choices. Our families and backgrounds are important because they begin defining us before we even realize it. However, the decisions that we make are just as crucial because we learn and grow from our mistakes. Although some believe that one factor is more important than another, I argue that both our families and our choices determine where we end up because their influences impact us at a young age and continue to define us throughout our lives.

The environment, family, and community I have grown up in has shaped me as a person. So far, I grew up in the same house all seventeen years of my life. My personality has grown and molded over the years of middle school and high school based off the lessons I have learned and the things I’ve been through.

“I’ve learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are.” These were the words of a poet, Omer B. Washington. However, they would only apply in