Throughout our childhood and early adulthood, we are constantly trying to understand who we are and what purpose we have. Whether that means trying new things left and right in hopes of figuring out what you want to be or whether it means throwing ourselves into a different environment to find out if that's who we are. The process of self-discovery is not so simple, it literally takes a lifetime. Everything we do and everything we have experienced has shaped us. To have our own identity we must examine our background and experiences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Class is where you stand, how you do things, and it can determine your future. All my life I have thought I was middle class or at least lower middle class, however I recently learned that I am working class. Being part of the working class allowed me to appreciate the things I was given and the opportunities presented to me. I realized that I am a hard working individual who aspires for something better than what I grew up with, to give my future children a better life. Likewise, my race and ethnicity have taught me not only to work hard, but to do above and beyond what is expected of myself. He taught me the importance of family, of staying together and of always respecting elders. The expectation for my race is to remain working class and be blue collar. I don't want to be the stereotypical Latina who stays home to look after the kids, cook and clean. I will not allow men, as is expected in my ethnicity, to rule the family and dictate what should and should not be done. I will fight against outdated thoughts and stereotypes. Likewise I will do the same regarding the “norms” of my gender. The world is changing at a rapid pace and so should be the mindset of people. Equally important is how my family, religion, school, and government have influenced me and my beliefs. Growing up in a predominantly immigrant family, I was taught to be cautious and careful with everything I do, as if I were being watched. Adding to the paranoia I grew up with was the government. The treatment of immigrants was everywhere and was used in my family as a way to instill fear in us when we were out of line. It was all about avoiding things that drew attention to oneself. In addition to the fear placed upon me as a child, I grew up with a single mother who constantly worked to feed and clothe her five children. Whenever he could he spent all his time with us, stressing the importance of family and spending time with said family. In this way I have a strong vision and value of family which equally played a role in wanting to become a teacher. My grandmother had forced religion on her family, so she made us go to a Catholic church. Catholicism was my first taste of religion which piqued my interest and ultimately made me choose to be a religious person, however I had chosen a different religion than the rest of my family. I chose to be Christian. I have a strong belief system and rely on my religion to keep me on the right path. School was my escape and made me who I am. It was at school where I discovered my strong passion for reading and where I could truly be myself. It was what set my expectations of going to college and being the first to graduate. We all have crazy, happy stories of interacting with people. I have.