Identity and Representation - Essay Example

My beliefs and values are developed in social groups where my identity is developed. For instance the Sun Devil Sports Clubs and the Taiwanese Student Association at Arizona State University are social groups that identify me. I am part of numerous social groups in the community. Being a Taiwanese, the Taiwanese Student Association is one of the organization I associate myself with. In this group, people regard me as one of their own who has come to the United States with the same dreams as them.

I share several characteristics with people in this group including cultural heritage, beliefs, values, religion, color and race. This group has affected and influenced my identity to a particular level. The members in this group have helped me to adapt to changes in this new country, by changing my attitude and some aspects of my character. For example, I had to learn about how to conduct myself when I am with individuals from Arizona, more like when you are in Rome do what the Romans do. The activities that I am participating in have contributed greatly towards which people’s groups I have become part of.

I like poetry and most of the time I find myself spending quite a considerable amount of time with fellow poets. I have realized that these poets I spend time with have numerous sentiments concerning poetry. Poetry in itself is considered a literal art which is inclined towards rhythm, sound, symbol that evokes hidden meaning to a particular subject. However, in some groups individuals refer poetry as imaginative experience that evokes emotional response to relax and entertain themselves. This presents a situation where differences materialize and I find myself unable to understand what poetry is all about.

Although the differences may undermine my opinions about this individuals, there is the benefit of making sense of these different opinions regarding poetry. The conflicting opinions about poetry, help me to deduce issues this particular group associate with, without any inhibitions. A number of ideas an individual tend to be influenced with the interaction of diverse groups in an area of residence or workplace. It is common in my opinion for ideas of an individual to evolve or change with time as interaction with other groups in different places takes place.

Numerous things such as assumptions, ideas and opinions have changed in my life as a result of relocating from Taiwan to the United States. For instance, I used to have the opinion that everyone when meeting for the first time a greeting by the bow of the head was a must to show respect to other people. However, when I came to the United States I came to the realization that this was not applicable. In fact I was shocked to see that people just greet each other casually even though they have met for the first time.

Thus, I realized that behavior, attitude and opinions matter a lot when developing an identity that others may perceived me with. In addition, I found that stereotyping the African American community by the white community as I had heard from Taiwan was simply not true, because I experienced different races learning together in the same school. This has been important in shaping my perspective of the identity of African Americans, and I have welcomed them with their ideas and opinions to shape my own identity.

There has been a significant influential effect in my life from being a member of several groups and