Identity

Identity during adolescence is one of the most important steps to go through. This is the stage where we determine who we are and what our place in the world is. "In the social jungle of human existence there is no feeling of being alive without a sense of identity." (p. 253) I can remember my claim to identity starting in 8th grade and branching all through the 4 years of high shool. I moved to a new school, made new friends, and somehow fit in with them. I came to school wearing a Silverchair t-shirt, hoping that someone liked them as much as I did. I found a group of girls that also wore band t-shirts similar to what I wore. They were very welcoming, and we became immediate friends. I can remember after becoming friends with these girls that the other girls who wore Tommy Hilfiger or Old Navy t-shirts, or whatever was popular at that time in the 90's, making fun of me for the "skater" clothes I wore. I didn't care though, because I had found my identity and had made friends. As I entered high school I continued to dress the way I did, but noticed that I didn't necessarily attract too many boys. The few I dated were friends that we already hung out with, and I didn't find an attraction to them as much as I did to other boys. I also became more environmentally aware and branched my music tastes to that of my parents, such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, etc. I started having a more mature taste in clothing, chosing a nice figure-fitting pair of cords rather than a baggy, men's-size pair of cords, and form-fitting shirts and sweaters. I chose colors that were more neutral and reflecting my love for the natural world around us. Blacks, greens, greys, tans versus the rocker-skater black and red with band t-shirts I used to wear. I started to talk to more than just "my group of friends" in my classes, and ended up making many friends. By the time senior year of high school ended, I was definitely labeled a "hippy chick" (minus dreads). There were many rough patches with finding my identity during these years, but I did find my true identity. I stopped copying the identities of others and branched into what I thought was my "own." I now feel completely comfortable with who I am and will always stand by my beliefs.