Michael Zarrillo Identity Essay

Michael Zarrillo

10 September 2014

Professor Young

English 1100

Identity Essay

The Importance of Having Your Own Identity

Every person no matter who they are should have an identity and something that defines who they are as a person. Having your own identity is important to know who you are. In the reading, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” by Gloria Anzaldua, Anzaldua identifies who she is with her language. For Gloria her language is everything to her and it is her identity and it defines who she is as a person. In my case, my identity is my family. My family means everything to me and I would not be the same person that I am now without my family behind me. My family defines me as a person and identifies who I am because they taught me, and made me the person I am today. It is important that everyone has their own identity because your identity makes and defines who you are as a person. 

There are many different ways to describe me, but the one true thing that describes me is my family. I am, and always will be 100% devoted and grateful to my family. My family describes me because they are the ones that shaped me into the person that I am today. My family taught me right from wrong, good choices and bad choices, how to present myself, to have manners and respect people and be kind to people, and everything else that I know today. If it wasn't for my family, I would not be the same person. I love my family with all of my heart and could never thank them enough for all they have ever done for me. 

My family has defined me as a person. They have taught me many things on how to be a nice, proper, sophisticated, and caring man. Ever since I was little I was always taught how to respect everyone no matter who they are, I was taught manners and to be kind to people, how to act properly, and everything else you could think of. I owe it all to my family because they formed me into the man I am now. Whether it was my Dad, Mom, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, or anyone else, they have all contributed to me and lead me onto a good path.

My family are also the ones who got me through the tough times in my life. My Uncle, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother all passing away in a three year span. I would have never made through it without my family's support. They were all in tears as well as I was, and they assured me that they would always be there looking down on me no matter what. We made each other stronger from this and got through it together. They are the ones who got me through it.

My family defines me as well because whenever I have a goal I want to achieve, they help me and support me to reach that goal. At sporting events, especially baseball games, my family was always there to cheer me on and through the slumps and bad moments when I was upset, they would help me and assure me that I will bounce back better than before. They helped me with schoolwork if I needed it, or with regular work my Uncle hired me at his restaurant when I needed to work.

No matter what it was, how difficult it was, or the cost, my family was there for me, supporting me all the way. They shaped me into who I am, and helped me with anything and everything they possibly could. That is why my family defines me. Because without them in my life, I would not be the man that I am today. 

I want the reader to know that my family means everything to me and they are the reason for me becoming the person I am today. They made me who I am and they supported me the whole time, whether it was my Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, whoever it was, they have all helped me at some point in becoming the man I am now. They have all contributed to supporting me in some way and at some point in my life. 

Anzaldua uses language to define her, this is because she loves her language, embraces it, and is proud of it. It is the same for me, I love my family, embrace my family, and am proud of my family. Anzaldua uses her language when she writes and how her language taught her many things. When I write, I write about things that my family has taught me and what I have learned from them. She also uses examples from her background. So when I use examples, I can use examples of things that my family has taught or done for me throughout my life. My family means everything to me, just like Anzaldua’s language means everything to her.

The importance of having your your own identity is to show yourself and everyone around you who you are. Everyone needs and identity to know who they are, because some people might not know who they are. Without an identity, there is no way for you, or anyone else to know who you are. Whether it is your language, your family, your background, your religion, whatever it might be, there needs to be something that identifies who you are. Identity can be anything, but it cannot be everything. There is one thing in everyone’s life that identifies them and shows who they are. They just have to take the time to look for it.