Identities and Belonging Essay

As social animals, human beings have a need to proceed. Human beings need the stimulus of other human beings to tip over their full potential. Ones identity is formed and influenced by the groups one belongs to. Humans are by nature sociable beings that must learn to fall in for peaceful existence to occur but are also individualist personalities who seek their own self fulfilment. Belonging to groups family, social or environmental groups, idler have immeasurable benefits. But while groups do provide one with a sense of identity, security and protection it freighter however result in sacrifices to selfhood and can entail certain inevitable costs.Groups tend to be self policing and apply criteria for membership and not everyone can fit that criteria. In order to belong, it is demand to possess certain characteristics, and those that do not have these characteristics, are apt to be excluded. So great is the human desire for acceptance and inclusion, however that the individual may well absorb many costs in their efforts to meet the standards that is asked of them. Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone elses opinions, their lives are mimicry, and their passions are quotations.When we were born, our thought is just equal a white piece of paper. During the time we grow up, our relationships and behaviours with others shape our way of thinking and our thought of life. In the school text five ways to disappoint your Vietnamese mother Diana Nguyen ,talks about her negative relationship with her mother and how she managed to disappoint her because she wanted to follow her dreams. Diana never felt like she belonged somewhere until the day she could actually perform. * I dont know what else I should say here* Who am I and where do I belong?These are questions we may ask ourselves on a daily basis. As you may know I was born in Greece , and I moved to Australia 1,5 old age ago. I wasnt really thrilled about it but I had no choice. I had to leave my country and go to a completely bracing and different place. I had to sacrifice my language so I can belong here. When I stepped into the plane to leave , the only thing that went through my qualifying is that I had to redefine myself again , show people how I really am and try to make new friendships from the start. I remember my dad motto to me you dont ave to worry, this is a new start , a new life. You can be a new you no one knows you so you can present yourself the way you want But really who was I? who am I? For the past 17 years I was Doris , a girl that wasnt always a great student but the greatest female rower on my age group . I knew from the start that I wouldnt be able to follow my passion here , to row . I had to stay home ,study and try to fit in Fitting was the hardest thing to do it still is- the first day of school it was like year 1 all over again , new people everywhere , everyone had their own groups and thus it was me .Different groups have exp ectations that force you to sacrifice aspects of your identity. Positive and negative aspects. Also sacrificing parts of your culture so you could be one of them. One of the post authoritative and impressive things that happened to me was that in Australia , I had time to experience different greek traditions that I never did in greece Greek people in Melbourne try harder to moderate their greek identity and culture. In Greece on the other hand we never try , we know who we are and that we will always be Greeks .We might not celebrate GreeK Easter as they do here but we know the actual meaning of it and we respect it without going to the extreme. However ,I might devolve my country but I learnt a lot of stuff this past year and I cant wait to learn more. After accommodate in and finding where I belong I family found some spear time to continue what I love more , rowing. So thats me I am just a Greek girl , who is a different person in Australia and a another one back in Greece.