The Me Nobody Knows

The Me Nobody Knows

Throughout most of my life I have often confronted myself with the question of self-identity. My past is inundated with people I have been: the quiet, reserved child, the intellectual, arrogant adolescent, and recently the cool, collected young woman. My once alternating identity was a product of the tendency we all have to accommodate others, often sacrificing part of ourselves in the process. The perception others have of becomes most important and the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes of our real selves are suppressed and hidden. Many times in my trials with my identity I had tried to ignore the meaning behind my suppressing actions. However, the message was clear: the real me simply wasn't good enough. And so, the battle was defined: myself vs. the me someone else wanted me to be. Such identity conflicts become identity crises when the victor of the battle is the "other" you.

Many times identity conflicts develop from the need for acceptance. Brent Staples, author of "Just Walk On By," can attest to that. Staples, like many African-American males, feels the stinging pain of stereotypes and racism. African-American males have been brutally typecast in American society; their societal misrepresentations have been key to instigating the fear and intimidation others feel while in their presence. Staples is a victim of such prejudice and consequently attains the almost supernatural power to alter public space. Such power, however, represents the source of Staples' conflict. Staples makes an issue out of a reality many African-Americans ignore; the imminent danger non-African-Americans feel when confronted with the presence of black men. Some accept their given roles of aggression and act accordingly, an...

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...While experiencing identity conflicts we must begin the process of self-analysis. We must ask ourselves who we are, contend with the answer, and make positive changes to put ourselves enroute to self-love. We must learn to commemorate our uniqueness and change only for our own happiness. Upon entering college, I strongly feel that I have become comfortable with who I really am. Still, I know my journey is not over, there will be many times when I question who I am and wonder how others perceive me. However, throughout my learning process, which shall be infinite, I am learning new things about myself all the time. Part of self-acceptance is being able to share your discoveries with the world, without apprehension. I still am on my quest to develop the ultimate, unconditional self-love we all seek and I hope to share with the world, the real me, the me nobody knows.