How do you identify yourself?
How do other see you or identify you?
Over time how has this impacted the person that you have become?
Reflect on this in the comment section below this post.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
CONCEPTUAL IDENTITY
Watch the power point below to explore conceptual identity and stereotype threat. After watching the video please share "your" conceptual identity in the comment section below.
How do you identify yourself?
How do other see you or identify you?
Over time how has this impacted the person that you have become?
Reflect on this in the comment section below this post.
How do you identify yourself?
How do other see you or identify you?
Over time how has this impacted the person that you have become?
Reflect on this in the comment section below this post.
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Wow! That is a lot to think about...I view myself as someone who has a lot of potential but has not fully tapped into it. There is a lot I'd like to accomplish yet. I also try to be a blessing or a asset to the people around me. I want to help and encourage people to the best of my ability, not hinder or distress them.
ReplyDeleteI think those who know me believe I am strong and able to lead. I think this perception has made me become a better person and willing to take on leadership roles in my life... pushing me to be a better person.
It funny to me that I connected with Kelli with viewing oneself with more potential than is being tapped into. My thought is that more often than not people feel this way. I just received a copy of my evaluation with comments like my positive attitude is contagious, students look forward to meeting with me, has a firm grasp of mathematical concepts, works effectively with all, truly a team player. I certainly am not saying this to pat myself on the back, but to say I read this with humbleness and a holy cow in my mind, because this isn't something I would write about myself. I say that because I am very hard on myself and borderline no overly to critical of my accomplishments. I don't view myself as accomplished but in need of improvement and I think that is where we all fit in to that untapped potential. I beleive that for some reason we feel like we fall short eventhough those around us see the great feats we have accomplished. I know that many people marvel at the schedule I keep and often tell me I am crazy to be so busy all the time. Sometimes I think their right, but for some reason I never try to reduce the schedule. On the same hand I think maybe it is easier to be better at one thing you can poor yourself into if you have the time, but does it give you the satisfaction of the experiences you get along the way with the busier schedule. Probably a personal decision, but what I do know is that others for sure view my accomplishments differently than I view my own, because I know I have many works yet to be completed and many students to reach and many classes to take :) and so on and so forth. I have much to learn and share with the world. I also believe that through my experiences in life I have been able to see the difference people have been in others lives, for truly being a wonderful person and having great character. So is it our accomplishments or simply who we are each day we enter the lives of others. This is a lot to think about, because some do not get the opportunity to prove to others who they are. They are looked at under stereotypical eyes and judgement has been made. My many experiences have certainly created an environment for me to adapt and change who I am and what I strive to accomplish, but I certainly want people to first look at who I am as a person and when someone can say thats impressive I think that is a great win. It is too bad that everyone can't have a time to be blindly judged for their own accomplishments before anyone sees what they look like or where they have came from. Maybe that would limit the stereotypical view.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to take inventory on the memories from childhood that stay with you. One is from third grade: I attended a church-based club where Bible verse memorization was a big part. My leader saw that if I worked really hard I could finish the book I was on and the next by the end of the year--this was about 50 verses in two weeks. She said she only mentioned it because she thought I'd be up for it. Another was the track coach my freshman year who thought I could get a time in the 100 hurdles about a second faster than I'd ever run them before. In both cases (and I'll spare you many other stories), I succeeded. There was no way I was going let someone down who thought I was up for a challenge.
ReplyDeleteSomehow, personal my programming makes challenges--either ones proposed to me or concocted myself--irresistible. It's why I'm an E/BD teacher, a 5K race director, mother of 4 closely-spaced children, soccer coach, trumpet player, singer, artist and on and on. I'm lucky to be able to do all these things and all that I do is definitely a source of huge joy. However, my challenge addiction is forever leading me to sign up for things that are difficult, scary, and beg the question, "What on earth was I thinking?"
I read a book on birth order that explained the conceptual identity of first borns, middle children, last borns. The first born chapter--I am a first born--was the longest and most complicated. I felt like I needed therapy after finishing the book. Sometimes other people have reflected that, too--like the time my friend called me psycho for making a bunch of different types of biscotti at Christmas or when I hear, "I don't know how you do it." Some people say I'm fearless--but guess what? I do have fear, but I just go ahead anyway. I think that's what appeals to me. I seriously wonder how others can make reasonable decisions regarding their time and efforts.
Over the years, I have learned to pick and choose, not base my success on whether or not I achieve, let a lot go, and live a sane life (sort of). My conceptual identity, at least what I'm working for now, is contentment--being ok with what I am, even if the challenge of the afternoon is simply taking a nap.
This is a lot to think about but honestly it's probably something I think about way too much. I'm always thinking about who I want to be and how do I want others to view me. I believe that we identify ourselves by the experiences that we have experienced in our lives.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, I had a low self-esteem. I hated what I looked like, I hated school, I struggled with my grades, and I felt like I was never cool enough to hang out with the popular kids. When looking back at these stages of my life I couldn't be happier that I went through all of them. Because of those experiences I have learned: how to take care of myself, to find the beauty in everyone, I'm have become a teacher and I’m now furthering my education, to work hard to become successful, that some people just aren’t worth your time, and you get to choose the people that you surround yourself with. It's amazing how your journey in life and the experiences that you have experienced all happen in your life for a reason and that reason might be that it has helped you develop the person that you are and how you want others to view you.
I identify myself as a happy, caring, social, talkative, energetic, motivated and hard-working lady.
ReplyDeleteOthers identify me as daughter, sister, cousin, granddaughter, sister-in law, friend, role model and teacher. Recently I found out I get to be a Kindergarten Teacher next year… I could not be any happier. Before I started to blog I checked my school email to find this…
“You are absolutely going to be the most wonderful kindergarten teacher ever!! I was so appreciative of all you did today to help me Cadi and it was so fun to be with you. I love your positive attitude and the way you encourage others. You have an amazing amount of enthusiasm and creative energy, have so many great ideas and will offer so much to Colony I. It's a nice feeling to know you will be there next year-You will do an outstanding job with the kids and our team. The future of Colony I is looking so much brighter to me already because of all the good things I know you will bring.
Thank you so much. I am so glad we had a chance to spend time together at the workshop.” -Co-worker
Being constantly surrounded by amazing family, friends and co-workers I believe I am all around truly blessed.
Reading through everyone else's posts so far, I definitely see a pattern. Could be that we are all educators.....:) We are viewed by others as strong, and capable and we view ourselves with doubts and fears (to a small extent.)
ReplyDeleteI would tend to agree with this. I laugh sometimes (mentally) when people pay me complements on my writing or my thoughts/ideas I present. I just think I'm being myself, and don't view myself as a deep thinker or profound writer. I'm hyper-critical of myself and always have been. I set goals for myself and at times, they might be lofty, but I'm such a stubborn driven person, I get them accomplished. At times, those accomplishments might come with undo stress and agrevation, but again, that's my personality and how I roll with things. :) I laughed at Amy's assessment of the birth order views. I too have read these books, and I'm DEFINTELY a first born!! I'm a poster child! Overachieving, perfectionist, multi-tasking control freak. Yup, that's me!! I wear that badge with honor!!
I need to learn to take compliments better. I need to learn to be easier on myself. I need to learn to delegate. These are all difficult for me, but they make me the person I am. I don't know how to be anything different. I wear so many hats and am so many things to different people. Sometimes I worry I loose myself in that way. I worry that I don't know my own identify or even if I have one anymore. I keep thinking once my kids are older, and I'm older, I'll find myself again. Ok, that's getting a little deep. I better stop before I get too sappy here. :)
I feel like I'm back in some of my old psychology classes. I primarily identify myself as a caring, compassionate, determined, incredibly busy, mother of 4. I tend to be very hard on myself and struggle with self confidence. I think this is partially because I usually expect more out of myself than I am able to give.
ReplyDeleteI've been told that people, especially those close to me, see me as a bit cynical, too busy, creative, and a little shy.
I've learned over time to not be so hard on myself. There is only so much time in a day and in order to continue taking care of those around me I need to take care of myself first.
Amy, I'm with you - a lot of my self-concept is tied up in birth order. I am the youngest of 5 and there's a 7 year gap between me and the youngest of the other 4. Unfortunately, there was a great power struggle between me and my older sisters. It caused me a real deficit in confidence that I still work to overcome.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed at how people are willing to trust me. I hate a lie, but how do they know? Is there some kind of 6th sense in people that makes them able to percieve this, or is it because I believe it of myself?
I identify myself as a hard-working. motivated, emotional, caring person.
ReplyDeleteI think people identify me as quiet. People that know me well would identify me as a good friend and listener. When I was younger and in school I think people saw me first as a twin. I have a twin sister who I am very close to and we spent our educational careers (up until now) together.
When I was younger so many people seemed to identify me as one of a set or sometimes didn't seem to know or care who I was, casting me into the role as "one of the twins". I had a 1st grade teacher who could NEVER tell me and my sister apart, which was really difficult. I think this made me follow interests that were different than my sister. To try and build my own identity apart from her. So I think society's pressure of "all twins are alike" in the end, actually made us more different.
My self-definition has changed so much over the years--I have to laugh at the different labels that I used to take so seriously. Sailor, soldier, pilot, communist, marxist, socialist, atheist,agnostic, theist. So, when I get impatient with the emotional opinions of younger people, I try to remind myself what I was like (picture the pain-in-the-ass young Tony with the long hair parted in the middle and the John Lennon glasses).
ReplyDeleteI also try to keep a sense of humor when I'm stereotyped--since you can still do that safely to a guy who looks like I do now. Sometimes I even act a little stereotypical just to have some fun with the stereotypers.
Statistically, I've got just 25 years left on the planet, so I've gotta boil things down a little for myself. I love truth, I love freedom and will always choose it over security. Labels are something I'm trying to swear off of, and like the prayer says, "give me strength to conquer all human respect."
I have a hard time telling people about myself...so I wrote a poem!
ReplyDeleteOde to Me
Oh boy, what a moment, to write about me,
Some people might jump at the chance,
To write about a topic such as fine as this,
Oh really, I get to write about “my dance?”
I noticed a pattern when perusing the list,
Of words often repeated by us all,
Humble was a word I often found most,
My, my should we hang it on the wall?
I love all the blessings that I have in my life,
Some covered in unique shades of gray,
But the best blessings of all haven’t always been the ones
That are easy to spot every day.
I’m honest and sweet and happy most times,
Caring, quirky, creative and kind,
But the best word of all to describe who I am,
Would be silly so that all of this rhymes!
I seemed to have missed the memo of first born,
Because stubborn I’m not can’t you see,
I don’t like to argue, I’m shy most of time,
And if my mother saw this list she’d disagree! :)
Please listen when I say that I agree with Kel-li,
When it comes to character display,
I too want to be seen as a person, who is clean,
And who leaves you in comfort not dismay!
When I think about the chance to be-come a mom,
I get excited and nervous in a rush,
I just hope when that time comes, I can be like all of you,
Brave, devoted, and courageous, not mush! ~Mindy
Thank you so much everyone for the inspiration for this poem!! I have a difficult time writing about how I “see” myself because I’m not always sure I know who that is. As many of us do, I have worn many hats in my life and often find myself “molding” into what others think I should be. However, I DO know that I want to leave people a little happier, even if for only a brief moment. And, that I’m a duck! Okay, let me explain…one of my co-workers recently compared me to a duck. I was worried at first because I didn’t know what she meant by that comment. She went on to explain that…I’m always calm on top,with a cheery personality, but (she figured) I must be paddling wicked crazy underneath (especially working in EBD)! Nailed it! ;) I like being a duck!
I think you put about 20x as much thought into this as the rest of us. Paddling wicked fast, as usual.:)
ReplyDelete