Personal Narrative: Defining Myself

I left everything behind and refused to go back. I left the one thing I wanted the most, but found the one thing I needed, freedom. My dark cloud of regret was behind me as I entered my salvation, Amsterdam. I entered the gates of Amsterdam and saw a multitude of smiling faces and entered the light. I had no recollection of how I got there, but I knew he wasn’t here I could feel it. I was finally free and I walked through the golden gates knowing I could start over.

As a child, I had always been the outcast. I often found myself hiding in the bathroom during recess to avoid the embarrassment when kids wouldn’t let me play with them. During lunch I ate at a table with a group of kids who, with me, were rejected by the others. No one wanted me in their cliques. My peers would make fun of me because I had a speech impediment or because I looked a lot chunkier than the average fourth grader. Everyone avoided talking to me, unless they wanted to make fun of me. My teachers were my only friends, which made people poke fun at me even more, calling me the “teachers pet”. I will admit I seemed very awkward as a child, but regardless I was a child who felt abandoned and worthless. I didn’t look or talk how everyone else did. Because I looked different, I was rejected.

Once it was as a freshman, just my overstuffed backpack and me experiencing an environment radically different than anything I had been exposed to ever before. Later it was as a junior, frustrated with a lack of self-confidence. I was plagued with social anxiety, paranoid over the smallest issues and mortified by the prospect of being approached by someone in public. It was painful to check out of a convenience store by myself, let alone meet new people or strike up a conversation with strangers. I used to think that this was going to be my life; every social encounter would be like walking on glass. Finally, towards the spring of my junior year, I clawed my way out of that pit, and I realized that the world wasn’t out to get me. I forced myself to get outside of my comfort zone, and I’m incredibly proud of myself for making that leap. And with the encouragement and support from my friends at school, I ultimately learned that hard work and initiative are two of the most important virtues on the path to success. And this all stems from the personal connections I’ve made with my peers at school, with these relationships dictating the way I have matured and developed mentally.

Throughout middle school, I conformed to what was expected. I changed my clothing style, the manner in which I conversed, and the people whom I conversed with to fit in. My interests often changed to what was popular at the time, and I always tried to make as many friends as possible so that I can look good in front of other people. I didn’t even know myself. I was what society had made me out to be. My friends weren’t my real friends; I didn’t have a single interest with most of them. Over time, I started to become unsatisfied with myself. This was until my transition to high school, when I made one of the best decisions of my

Almost literally, I think I need to call Mike Tyson and put a trifecta there.

It was when I got to middle school that I realized that things needed to change. I almost instantly became friends with one of the most popular girls in school, as well as her posse. I tried so hard to fit in that I started changing who I was

Throughout elementary and middle school I was known for being the girl who didn't say much. I always felt out of place in the classroom and uncomfortable around my own classmates but all of my insecurities began to disappear when I took a risk. It was something that forced me outside of my comfort zone and I found a passion that I never would have known existed. This life altering experience was the decision to join the speech and debate team. Through this I gained the foundation to become who I was meant to be and I realized how much positivity can be gained when stepping outside the protective walls of your insecurities and believing in yourself.

My identities are complicated and hard to explain so the best way I can do at this point is do kind of a free form of the two and then explain them the best way I possibly can. My first identity would be the blue collar professional one (Mr. Coverdale). he is well-spoken, poised, well-mannered, and knowledgeable. The second identity (Henry). He would be the short tempered, disrespectful, and just do not care about anyone or anything but himself and takes no bull from anyone. They get along more than they disagree with each other helping each other out in a way that things get done in the right way, but they do bump head from time to time. The situation in which that happens has to be the most challenging and conflicting. sometimes one is entirely

Consequently, every two steps forward became three steps backwards. When middle school started, I was forced to make new friends, as my former ones went to a different school. Surprisingly, i made friends and inched ever so more out of my shell. By the eighth grade, the ball was rolling and i was unwittingly on the path to becoming even more confident - shocking really.

According to merriam-webster.com, the definition of identity is “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual”. I believe that a person’s identity is comprised of many things, including the type of people they hang out with and their actions towards other people. Your identity is how other people see you. I also believe that a person’s identity can change over time due to something like a traumatic event or even the maturity that person gains as they grow older. There are many ways to describe who I am as a person and my identity. I believe the three main facets of my identity are sports, reliability, and, most importantly, the fact that I am a brother.

What makes up an identity? A whole lot of things. Your friends, family, and culture can all play parts into your identity, but how can you show your identity to someone who isn’t you? By presenting the different sides of you of course. My project illustrates the fun, serious, playful, and loving parts of me in different areas and situations. It displays my identity in many different fashions and therefore deserves an A.

Even my close friends say that they don't know me well. I don’t feel sorry about this because it is the product of my efforts to hide my identity. Born half Japanese and half Korean, I have been secretive as to my identity since I have never been welcomed in Korea and in Japan. The Koreans have shunned me for being a descendant of the people who colonized them brutally, while the Japanese distanced themselves from me, saying that I am one of those who keep demanding apologies that they had already done.

What makes you who you are? Sincerely, is it the clothes you wear that defines you or is it the grades you get? Attending high school is a weird experience for every person. You will not have the same obstacles to overcome as everyone. It is all one big blob of popularity contest. With that personal acceptance is hard. We are all trying so hard to fit it in, it nearly seems impossible to find one’s true self. Junior year I let myself go. Completely flew off the handle. It occurred to me that these people I’m with, these people right now do not matter. They will not determine my future and shouldn’t influence the choices I am making as of now. I want to be me, truly me. Not as if I was really hiding, but the need to break free of my whatever

Since becoming a high schooler, I’ve been able to visit Europe and make attempts to try and speak new languages with strangers. Ive been able to engage in debates and support my opinions and beliefs. I’ve been able to join more programs and have faith in myself… This time a few years ago I would've never been able to accept who i am.

Zoning out in English class tends to be my specialty. As much as I want the subject to capture my thoughts and change my perspectives I just can’t find interest in grammar rules let alone constructing a thesis. My view on English transformed abruptly when my teacher, Mr. Curry, assigned us a quote and told us to not only define it, but also make it our story. Our story? What do you mean our story? I didn’t write the quote so what makes you think it will have any significance to my personal life? Although I wasn’t as enthusiastic about the assignment as he was, I told myself to at least give it a shot.