The Mask Project

Ian Gaver

Many things have socialized me as I've grown from birth to present​. From my
mindsets to my beliefs, different things can change how I distinguish other opinions or
expectations. In this essay I take a journey through all of the​ things that gave me
morals and developed how I think, and explore my beliefs and expectations, family,
sports and friends.

My family has influenced me the most by projecting their opinions and

expectations on me. Some of the standards they hold me to correspond with how you
treat others, determination to do a good job, you get out what you put in, consideration,
don't be judgmental, and always being kind. They compare me with themselves and my
brothers, and they have taught me to hold myself to a higher standard. They have
taught me the importance of attending things like school, work, sports, and many other
responsibilities, most of which, are the very . Certain things invoke emotion, for
example, seeing a homeless man on the street may motivate you to work hard to not
get into that position.

Another thing that defines my identity is my growth in sports. I have competed

and in that process; grown in Lacrosse, climbing, and crossfit. For example, Sports
have helped me to expand my mindsets, grow in teamwork, gain new friends, and my
determination to dedicate time and get better at that sport. Lacrosse has socialized me
by rhetorically convincing me that it is the fastest sport on two feet.. It has taught me
strategy and determination. Climbing has socialized me by leading me to meet fun
friends in the sport, and has helped me with precision and control.. Finally, crossfit has
socialized me by it changing how I workout and how I set goals for exercise. The things
that these sports have taught me have been most valuable because of these skills
transferability to things like school..

My final element of my socialization is my friends in school, sports, and family.

Friends are a huge part of my identity because they are someone that you are around
most days that you enjoy. You joke around with each other, and trust each other it never
matters if you agree. However, even though everyone has their own opinions, each
person’s opinions are influenced by the opinions of the people they spend the most time
with. If you are a person who is highly influenced by the opinions of your friends, then
when someone in your group brings forth a new opinion, you are more likely to agree
with that opinion by default.
 In conclusion, everyone has been socialized by everything in their lives and
everyday situations. My personality has been influenced by​ the​ things that give me
morals, how I think, my beliefs, expectations, family, sports and friends. The things that
have given me these values are my family, friends, and the sports that I partake in. The
way that I live my life has been greatly influenced by things that are out of my control. I
am unsure of my true identity because so much of it can be attributed to things that are
out of my control. I hope in the future to discover what truly makes me happy and
makes me who I am.