Describing oneself presents a challenge especially when there is limited knowledge of who one is and inadequate levels of introspection and self-awareness. I, however, value self-knowledge and understanding which is why I engage in frequent self-learning and understanding. I, therefore, believe that the knowledge is sufficient to answer the question “who am I?” I am initially an independent individual with different roles towards my well-being and welfare. I am then a member of a group and society that need my input in several ways. I believe that I am responsible for the person I am and the satisfaction I have in life, which is why I often work towards my highest potential and achievement of the dreams and goals I have developed over time. All these characteristics emanate in a personal identity I have established which I ensure to differentiate to a given extent from my collective or social identity.
I believe that I am the incorporation of the self, which is founded on my identity and the social individual which is founded on the collective identity. As Callero (2003) recognizes the self is founded on a certain level of power that will impact on the individual’s overall life. It means that when the self and collective identities come into play, it is probable that one will be the best in whatever is being undertaken. The socialization process has helped develop these aspects of me I have gone through and the contribution of various socialization agents that have led to different impacts on my personal and collective identities. It means that the person I am, is the appropriate functioning of these two roles I hold. I have the responsibility to care for myself through ensuring of personal safety, health, physical well-being, emotional health and psychological welfare. It is why every action I engaged in is often geared towards the protection and maintenance of my welfare. Even with the responsibility towards myself, I believe that my efforts need to be geared towards the well-being of those I interact with. Therefore I have the responsibility of caring for my family and the rest of society. One often has the motivation and expectation for personal success and the success of others in the society which will result in one’s confidence in personal abilities. My automatic group membership to various social groups means that I have a role to play in the development and success of these groups and my behavior will be a determinant in how these groups function. Such groups as those defined by gender or my preferences or peer associations are dependent on the successful fulfillment of my roles as an efficient member. It is an indication that my ability to succeed and contribute to the success of others plays a critical role in self-confidence and the part I play in my society.
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Even throughout this process of socialization, various social agents play critical roles in the individual I am. One primary agent of socialization the family which has an impact in the initial view one develops of the world. Grusec (2011) discusses the aspects of nature and nurture where the author identifies that children will learn and develop moral and social conventions from their families especially from their parents as they are the primary caregivers. It means that the family will play an essential role in what learns about what is wrong and right and how the individual perceives other people. My family has determined the individual I am today to a large extent. My parents, through teaching and how I interact with them, have taught me to have to care for myself thereby being able to care for others. Their initial teachings where on how to ensure holistic health through attention and keenness to my physical well-being, concentration on my emotional welfare and emotional health. It is why I often value how I am as an individual because health at the personal health means that I can give the best to others.
My parents have ensured to impact on me the value of family; it is why I treasure family and will always help whenever I can. It is why my family and friends often come first in all I do. My family has also impacted in me the value of helping others. The role was especially visible in how my parents would help the needy from when I was a child up to this day. Their help towards others may not have been as big, but through the small ways they impacted other people’s lives, I have learned to help anyone in need of my help because I have learned that change can be achieved one heart at a time. I believe that it is not only my family that has contributed to my socialization but my religion too.
We adhere to religious beliefs that advocate for the welfare of other people which results in one’s well-being. My religion has made a significant contribution to how I have developed throughout my childhood to how I have turned out as an adult. Our belief in a supreme being and the power for one to be satisfied in helping others have further compounded on how I view the needy in society. It means that religion has helped me develop a soft spot for those who are less fortunate in society. It is why I have dedicated a part of my life towards helping the homeless in my community. As I learned from my parents, even that help that may seem insignificant to many would have made a difference to whoever needs the help most. Therefore, as my religion requires, I make sure that I help those who are needy in the best way I can. Ball et al. (2017) identify that early experiences of a child with social agents such as the family and religion will affect his or her moral development. It means that one’s religious beliefs will impact how he or she views what is wrong and right. As I reflect on my life, I realize that religion has contributed to more than how I view others. It has impacted on how I view what is wrong and right in society. Religious beliefs often gear one towards appropriate behavior which has resulted in my understanding of which behavior is appropriate and that which may not be acceptable at all levels. My socialization process has not only been affected by religion but also by peers.
I believe that my peers have had the most impact on my socialization in my early adulthood years. They have mainly contributed to the process through re-socialization. ---- recognize that an individual will be impacted in different ways by peers who may result in the individual learning different social perspectives than those learned from other primary agents of socialization. It means that even as one interacts with peers, he or she will learn certain aspects that may change behavior that was acquired earlier on from other social agents. I believe that my peers have contributed to my re-socialization in areas of social interactions. I have often been a shy and reserved individual since my childhood and had managed to make only one friend. However, the one friend I had is more social and influenced my engagement with others, and I realized that it has become easier for me to interact with other. It has further resulted in my acquisition of more than five friends who I consider to be good friends. The interaction with peers is often present in my educational encounters as many of these friends I have made them while in my pursuit for education. Therefore education has also impacted my socialization process.
Evidence indicates how many individuals have learned more about who they are through their experiences while seeking education (Carr, Pastor & Levesque, 2015). It is especially true for me as I have learned more about the self and the type of person I am through my educational journey. I believe that if I had not encountered various educational aspects, I might not have identified how to carry out self-assessment or self-awareness exercises. I may not have managed to understand how to carry out introspection exercises. I have acquired all these aspects of education, and they have contributed significantly to the understanding of myself.
It is clear that socialization occurs at varying levels and through various agents. The family makes the most significant contribution to the process as the primary encounter at a social level one encounters at the family level. Religion also has a significant impact on how one is socialized and especially one’s moral development. Peers and education play important roles too, and they will contribute to further understanding of oneself and that of others. All these aspects and more have contributed to my socialization and have resulted in the individual I am today.
References
Ball, C. L., Smetana, J. G., Sturge-Apple, M. L., Suor, J. H., & Skibo, M. A. (2017). Moral development in context: Associations of neighborhood and maternal discipline with preschoolers’ moral judgments. Developmental psychology , 53 (10), 1881.
Callero, P. L. (2003). The sociology of the self. Annual review of sociology , 29 (1), 115-133.
Carr, M. L., Pastor, D. K., & Levesque, P. J. (2015). Learning to lead: Higher education faculty explore self-mentoring. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring , 13 (2), 1.
Grusec, J. E. (2011). Socialization processes in the family: Social and emotional development. Annual review of psychology , 62 , 243-269.
