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Introduction
Identity is an important social element that influences how an individual is perceived by other members of society. The perception may be based on such factors as behavior, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, and race. Social identity embraces the differences between individuals based on cognitive beliefs, behavioral consequences, and emotional associations. This study seeks to highlight critical thinking on my social identity and how it has influenced the perception of the people around me (Santrock 270). The study will be covered in relation to the following areas:
Background and Experience
Despite the fact that my life at home was very easy, I could not overcome the isolation that characterized my life. Many factors contributed to my loneliness and discomfort. One of the factors that greatly influenced my lifestyle was the stereotypical thinking that I had about different people. I used to watch many American movies with threatening themes such as murders, robberies, and other forms of crimes. The messages from the movies influenced my character and perception towards other people. I strongly believed that the people around me were violent and uncaring. This perception made me separate myself from my age mates and other people. In return, the people in the community did not like me and treated me like a stranger.
Identity Development
Identity development starts from a stage where an individual is able to attain self-understanding, which leads to self-recognition. Self-concept and self-awareness are the last phases in identity development (Woolfolk 148). The development of my self-identity was in line with these phases. My earlier experiences and perception of the people around me influenced my identity. Stereotypical views on people affected my feelings. I was a nervous person who felt uneasy and scared surrounded by other people. I had few friends since I could not interact with people who could accommodate my views and behaviors.
When my parents informed me that I would join an overseas college to study abroad, I was not ready for the idea since I had developed self-awareness on my identity. I tried to oppose the idea but my parents were very convincing. I was afraid of losing my close friends and family members once I have moved to college. After realizing the value of education, I changed my mind a few hours before the flight. I convinced myself that I had to join the college regardless of how other people would think of me.
Transition into a New Social Group
A few days after joining college, I was not able to interact with anybody even with the classmates. Different students joined different groups and movements in the college. I led an isolated lifestyle that was marked by loneliness and fear. Stories about haze groups in the college also exacerbated the situation. I used to think that students who were identified with certain groups were members of haze movements. However, one unique thing that I discovered in the college was the element of diversity among the students.
The college is comprised of students from various cultures and nationalities. With time, I came to identify that there were other students with a similar perception and behavior like mine. I would approach such students and inquire about certain issues from them. However, I realized that such students were much more fearful and had strong stereotypical thinking about other people.
One important event marked by the transition into a new social group was the day when the professor gave assignments that were supposed to be done in groups. I was assigned to the group that I had always feared to be a haze movement since they were extremely jovial. I did not develop a negative reaction towards the group. Its members met three to four times to do the assignment and everybody was to participate in the discussion of the findings.
This marked the first time that I participated in an open discussion with other class members. The group task opened opportunities for social interaction in the class. During the discussion, the group members shared their views on different things. Social identity was on the list of things that were discussed by the group. By the time the group held the final discussion I was able to open my mind and speak freely to other students. I started interacting with the members and became close friends with them. The interaction enabled me to eliminate the stereotypical thinking that I had acquired at the childhood stage.
I changed my views and perceptions about people. I could find it easy to interact with anyone and be accepted in any group. In a diversified environment, it is important to accommodate the differences between people for unity and equal treatment.
Fitting into Certain Groups
Despite the fact that I was able to change my perception and behavior in college, there was a time when I felt like I could not meet the requirements of a few individuals whom we had visited with my friends. The group comprised of students who were members of a haze movement. They forcefully recruited new students to join the movement. I could not meet the requirements especially the hostility that was manifested by most of the group members.
I knew that joining the movement would interfere with my studies and relationship with other students in the college. Hazing was prohibited in the college and any hazing activity attracted expulsion from the college. I also did not want to go back to my stereotypical views that I had before I joined the college. The experience greatly affected my perception of the members of the movement. I stopped interacting with some of my friends who belonged to the movement since I knew I could easily be lured into their activities.
Significant Life Changes
Before joining college, I lived a life of full isolation and negative perception of people. I believed that people around me were very hostile and uncaring about others. However, starting college was one of the activities that brought significant changes in life. The college environment enabled me to interact with different people from different backgrounds and views. I was able to interact with different students and share our experiences on various issues in life.
I met friends who had similar views to mine and friends who had completely different thoughts and ideas. It was in college that I got the opportunity to experience the significance of diversity in society. Therefore, apart from the academic learning in class, I learned other additional things such as cultural differences between students. Therefore, the college reshaped my social identity by enabling me to interact with different people.
Works Cited
Santrock, John. Child Development, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print.
Woolfolk, Anita. Educational Psychology, Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2007. Print.
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