Every individual has a distinct past that shapes their identity. The situations that people face can cause them to have a distorted perception of themselves. These distorted perceptions allow people to lose sight of the important things in life. To discover their true self they will have to create a path of self-transformation. Scott Momaday, Victor Joseph and Macklemore have different backgrounds but they all share a common thread of reconnecting with the important things in life. Many variables influence the destiny of each person, but it is the physical and psychological factors that predispose his vulnerability. Vulnerability can often be seen as a sign of weakness, but these protagonists are examples of those who embrace their vulnerability. In Scott Momaday's The Way to Rainy Mountain, Sherman Alexie's Smoke Signals, and Macklemore's Life, protagonists claim their true identities by becoming vulnerable. As they hit rock bottom in their lives, each protagonist maintains a sense of security by remembering their past. In The Way to Rainy Mountain by Scott Momaday, Momaday reclaims his past by remembering the time he spent with his grandmother. Through his grandmother's death, Momaday remembers her: “she would stand at the wood stove on a winter morning and turn meat in a large iron skillet; sitting at the south window, bending over the beads, and then, when her sight failed. . . when the weight of age fell upon her; praying. I remember her more often in prayer” (2507). He longs to be at her grave and longs to belong by visiting her spiritually. Momaday looks at his grave with despair instead of embracing all the life he has given him. Momaday, remembering his grandmother, loses hope and as... middle of paper... these struggles will live within him forever. Whether associated with family, friends, or fans, each protagonist finds a strong support network as they face hardships and overcome their monsters. Through Scott Momaday's struggles, Victor Joseph and Macklemore find their true identities. Their desperation leads them to realize that they need to change themselves. In their journey, when they face the past, they don't let it destroy their future, but instead allow it to change their future. Through support, each protagonist overcomes life's biggest struggles or their own monsters. Society makes it easy to lose sight of one's true being and potential. Constant societal pressures impact people's choices, but each person defines their own destiny. Scott Momaday, Arnold Joseph, and Macklemore all find their true purpose in life by changing their lives.