“Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle,” said Alice from Lewis Carroll’s novel, "Alice in Wonderland." Figuring out our unique, individual identities is indeed a “great puzzle.” There is no single word, expression, or signifying moment that defines who we are. Our identities change based on our past experiences, present discoveries, and future interests.
To begin with, everything in our daily lives reflects the choices we made yesterday. These choices range from the simplest, minute decisions of getting a full night’s rest to deciding whether or not to submit that life-changing application half-way around the world. Over time, these choices build our character and principles. We learn what we are willing to fight for and what we are not. We learn to distinguish integrity from charisma both in others and ourselves.
In my life, my family has played a major role in my identity. Many of the experiences and opportunities my parents gave me have shaped who I am today. Their influence and presence in my upbringing is one of the main factors in the development of my identity. Additionally, every teacher of mine has and still is playing a major role in my identity. Remembering who and where you come from is one of the most important things anyone can do.
Each and every one of our past experiences adds to the whole of our identities. We are the sum of our past. Our identities are more than simply who we are. My identity today is more than simply who I am. It is a compilation of all the versions of “me,” past and future. The present “me” is my identity in transition. I’m changing every day, in everything. In fact, our “present” identities are who we are becoming.
Our future desires and aspirations have yet to even be imagined. There is no telling what we will crave to be a part of later in life. The intensity with which our passions burn (and for what) changes with our “present” identities… and that is completely okay. New people, places, and opportunities enter our lives every single day. Even if we choose to pursue passions within the same field, that field is constantly developing with new creations, ideas, and possibilities. We are, by nature, born explorers. Curiosity is what shapes and molds what we learn and accomplish in life.
As I and the rest of the world try to solve this “great puzzle” of who we are, we often attempt to label our personalities and interests. Fortunately or unfortunately, we cannot define our identities because we do not know who we will be tomorrow. As Alice from Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland" said, “It’s no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
