My Identity : Who Am I ?

My Identity : Who Am I ?

One's identity is affected by many things : where you were born, where you live, what language you speak, and what religion you believe in etc., in other words, according to people's environments, each person's identity must be built up in various ways. One's identity reveals the person's characteristics that distinguish him from others. That is to say who you are, so I have my peculiar identity as you also have your specific identity. While I have been growing up, I have had many varied experiences that shape my identity. There are three principal effects that form my identity: the traditional patriarchal system, military, and America, where I have been experiencing God.

The first effect that has shaped my identity is the traditional patriarchal system. Actually, it is one of the general things in the past Korean society. Korean society used to have the traditional patriarchal system even though that system has been weakening with the urbanization process, but usually, many of the old generation still expect and demand many things of their first-born son. I am the first-born son and I am the only son among my father's side, so I was requested to do many things. For example, I had to become a good model to the other cousins, and I needed to learn how to go to our ancestral graves, and what to do there such as an ancestor-worship ceremony, or weeding our ancestors' graves, had to get a good score in school, had to get first place at running in the sports meeting held by the school, and I had to have moral senses such as respecting elders, behaving with dignity, and having a strong sense of duty. Even though when I was young, I really hated those requirements expected of me by my elder relatives, they have in the end made me into a well-behaved person. Finally, the demands produced good results.

The second effect that has shaped my identity is the military. The Korean military system has a compulsory military service, so every Korean men, who pass the physical examination for check up what the man is suitable for military service, have to serve the military as one of the Korean citizen's duties. Therefore, I also joined the Air Force at December 25, 2005 the saddest Christmas for me. Above all, when I arrived at the base, everyone wore the same olive drab uniforms and combat boots. I could not adjust to the unfamiliar scene as an airman first class. As days went by, I had a really hard time; every day I was in hard training to defend my country such as preliminary rifle instruction, hit-and-run attack, or long distance marching. Sometimes we did highly worthy things. For instance, when a disaster overwhelmed the city called Chung-ju, placed near my base, we helped right away to evacuate dwellers. We could save many lives. It was the most valuable experience I had ever had in the military. Anyway, with many good

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