Identity Formation: What Makes Us Who We Are?
A Study in Human Development
Statement of Inquiry: Identity formation is
impacted by a person’s character and setting.
Mrs. Butler, Period 4B
Core English 8
Journey Of Faith
By: Althea Devost
In life, many things have happened to make people who they are today. Here are some of my wonderful
mother’s life experience. There are many events my mother has been through, the good,and the bad, She has
struggled, but overcame faith,homelife, and how She presents herself.
Faith has greatly influenced my mother; God has been a big influence in her life. Along with those who
share the word of God with her. She tells me about one of her best memories. “When we moved down to
Virginia Beach, my two daughters and I went to a craft fair. There was someone from the church who invited us
to come to the church on Sundays. “ That’s how a new life began-our new life.” The church, not only
influenced me, but my mother greatly through that church, She learns about God,how to pray and connect with
God. Whenever my mom feels strongly about something my mother knows when to do it. She knows because
God gives her the green light to do it. My mom states that when there was a need to move forward with
relationship building in the church, and outside the church so I acted on it. “Where there is a need-If I can guide
to fulfill and God gives me the green light, I do it.” That was two ways faith has influenced my mother to be the
woman she is today.
Another way my mother's life is influenced by her safe places. There was abuse in her home, but there
were places where she felt comfortable and safe. My mother tells me that she grew up surrounded by men, and
boys. She tells me she has an old soul, So she was mature for her age. Most of her time was spent on her eldest
brothers farm. Additionally she also spent time at maternal grandma's house. “Those places make me feel very
safe.” In addition, my mom said that she feels very safe in cemeteries. A couple of her favorite cemeteries are
the Walton, Sidney Central, Unadilla, and the Vestal Cemeteries. “ I find the most peace at cemeteries because I
feel that it is a place I can truly open up and speak to God without interruption.” Those are places my mother
feels most comfortable in. Along with her safe places have influenced her in a positive way.
Because of my mother's faith in God and her upbringing. She is a person who was grateful for
everything. she would like to be remembered as “ someone who love’s to network, the positive bridge that
brought the world together one person at a time, someone the people could trust, what she said to people was
safe with her, and that when people were around me they have a fulfillment of love but if you cross me it
doesn’t end well .” Her personality has a positive influence on herself and others around her my mother said
“,because I have positive thinking and I have an inability to look at the facts and not bring emotion into it.”
These are ways she hopes to influence others and how she looks at herself.
There are many experiences my mother has gone through to make her who she is known because of her
faith,past home life, and how she wants to be seen as along this journey of hers, she has learned to be a positive
person and to forgive not forget and not to be naive.
By Anjolique Moss
My Grandmother’s life has been greatly influenced by her best memories in her life. For
example her own grandmother’s death affected her life. Her Grandmother helped her and kept
her moving on in life before her grandchildren came. Ever since she’s been fine. My
grandmother has been raising kids, several important moments, and her family and friends.
The hardest thing she ever had to do was raise kids, and this influenced her greatly.
Because she had to raise me, my siblings and my mom and my uncle. It was her choice to help
my grandfather raise us after my mom left. She’ll always try her best to support us. Raising her
kids definitely was part of what made my grandmother who she is today.
Her best memories in her life also defined her. Once when me and my siblings was born.
We do things to keep us close. We really made a big impact on her life. As soon as she found out
she didn’t have cancer anymore, that was another happiest memories. I always was here for her
when she needed me when she had cancer. The saddest is when her brother died because she
missed him as well. She’ll always like to be remembered for all the good things she done in her
life, such as being a nurse and helping people. All these events have made my grandmother the
person she is today.
My grandmother is also influenced by her family and friends. My grandmother enjoy
being with family and friends especially on holidays when we have our family dinners. Meeting
all new types of friends and family. Because we don’t really get as much family time. Us coming
into her life influenced her in all types of ways.
By Anthony Hager
When I went to first interview Mrs.Eli, I was taking it not that seriously and, it was last
minute for me. Then when I was doing the interview I started to get more interested and started
to take it more serious. When I had the interview, I learned that she loves to live her life, she has
a loving caring family, and loves to give back. Mrs. Eli is who she is today because of her family,
living her life, and giving back to the community.
Mrs.Eli loves to live her life and is never fake. She will be straight up with you and never
do you wrong. Mrs.Eli also loves her church because it is inviting and no one judges. She likes
going to church because she can express herself. She loves having fun at work she messes
with kids and they mess back. She is no that strict or serious unless if you do something bad.
She is not boring or overdoing at the same time. she likes to be chill and she is a strong hearted
funny and all together she is her own person. That is why I think that mrs.eli loves to live her life!
Mrs. Eli loves her family. Although she didn't have a dad for the most of her life, she had
her mom an independent, hard working woman. moreover, she inspired her to be who the is
today. Her mom let her move into her house, in the basement. As a result, her mom with no
question took her in not only but she paid rent and was still responsible. Her mom lowered the
rent so she could by her own house. She also has a husband that she married. they have a dog
she didn't tell me his name but showed me pictures of the cute little yorkie. That is why she is
who she is today and she loves her family.
Mrs.Eli is a heartwarming person, loves helping the youth in addition to protecting the
youth. She works as a school security guard to keep us safe. Also to communicates with the
kids at school and makes the students feel welcome. She wants to be a teacher and is thinking
about being one because she loves helping kids. She also meteors young girls on the side to
help them out on life choices and to give them a chance in life and also gives them support so
they don't become bad citizens. That is why she giving back to the youth of society.
Mrs. Eli’s success in her life is defined by living her life, her family, and giving back. She
lives her life by doing what she wants if she can. She also loves her family and her mom is the
most inspiring person she has ever met. Finally, she loves giving back to the youth she mentors
kids and wants to be a teacher later in life. That is how Mrs.Eli has succeeded in life and
continues to succeed.
By Breonnah Felton
“Mother to child. As he said Life ain't no crystal stair.” That was my aunt’s favorite poet,
`Langston Hughes. That quote was comparing to her life because she went through troubles in
her lifetime. I believe that my Aunt’s life was affected by her parents, her memories,and her past
experiences.
One of the reasons that my aunt life was influenced by her parents. Her father was one of
the best people in her life. He was a highly educated man, and very considerate about her only
needs. On the other hand, her mother was disable and suffered from M.S., and also suffered from
bipolar disorder. She and her mother had a very rough relationship. Her parents made her realize
the more importance of health care and the education in the black community. That’s why my
aunt’s life was influenced by her parents.
My aunt’s life was also influenced by her memories. When she was about three or four,
she was touched inappropriately, and sadly her mother didn't believe her. She went to therapy to
help her out with many problems. Her memories with her father help her grow up especially with
the quote he gave her. “ you'll meet people that you’re better than, but a mark of a true lady is to
never act better than anyone.”That’s how her life was also influenced by her memories.
One last way my aunt’s life was influenced by was her past. My aunt is a very hard
worker and a caring person. Since My aunt’s father father taught her those things, to be a kind
and loving person and not to judge anyone else it made her who she is. When I was three, she
came over and celebrated Christmas with me. When her mother couldn't take care of here, her
father could and that made her a hard worker. That's why my aunt’s life was influenced by her
past.
In conclusion, my aunts life was very complicated and mostly challenged. She went
through some good times and some bad times but came through. My aunts life, was influenced
by her parents, memories, and her past.
Mrs.Mcrinroe Is The Mysterious Math Teacher
By: Dylan McClellan
I feel that you are influenced by things around you, Mrs.Mcinroe has been influenced by
a lot.. She has been influenced by a lot, but here are the three things that I think impacted here
the most were her being a parent, traveling experiences, and here past experiences. Now in these
pages I will be telling you how the experiences have affected her.
As she became a parent she stated that it has changed her life and what she does in her
life. It has changed what she wants to be known as in her life, as she stated “ i’d like to be known
as a good mother, hopefully my kids will say that about me.”. I feel like that has definitely shows
that it influences her, as you can tell it has changed what her main goal is in life is, and/or what
she wants to be known as. Another influential thing was when she said that the biggest influence
in her life are her kids. This shows that it influences her by here just saying that her kids are the
biggest influence on her. Another example of this is when she said that everything she has does
she bases it off of how her kids will be affected by it. This is a huge thing, by saying everything
she does or decision she makes, shows that her kids influences her. These are examples of how
being a parent influenced her, and how they influence her.
Traveling experiences also played a huge role in Mrs. Mcinroe’s life. As an example, she
took an internship job to France and Switzerland where she spent a year and a half. The way that
this changed her was that it made her see how hard the government works to keep these animals
safe, and it also made her change what she wanted to do with her life. Another example of this is
when she chose to go to very different places with very different animals and analyzed about
their environment and behavior. That experience widen her horizon and made her figure out
what she really wanted to do in her life. Another huge example of this was when she she took a
mission trip for her church and traveled through similar cultures and very different cultures.
These influenced her and made her want to do really inspirational things in her life. Those are
some examples of how she was influenced and what happened that influenced her.
Her past experiences are also very influential for her life too. As an example when she
responded to my question, which was “what is one lesson you've learned over time?” She
responded “To work hard and to keep going even though you face obstacles”. This influenced
her and made her figure out this lesson because of her past experiences. Another example is
when she also said “Be nice to people because you never know what they're going through.”. I
think this also influenced her from what she’s gone/going through in her life or has learned from
past experiences.The last example is when she also said that its most rewarding when the
outcome that she wanted and worked for happens. We know this influenced her because this one
kid she had taught was failing and then she helped him out a lot and then he came out with an A
at the end of the year and she said that made her very happy and motivated her. Those are the
three main ways that her past experiences influenced her, and how they influenced her.
There were many things that influenced Mrs. Mcinroe. The first one is by being a parent,
and she said that overall it influences her in a good way and makes her think about her decisions
in life in a different way. Her traveling experiences also influenced her because she said it made
her think in a different way and have a different perspective. Her past experiences also taught her
to think differently and helped make her the way she is today.
MY POWERFUL MOTHER
By Jadyn Wilson
My mother Kimberly Su Yung Wilson was born in Norfolk,Virginia on December
30th,1981.Growing up and inspired by 2 different cultures have made her appreciate and value
different types of tradition.Kimberly’s parents HoCha Wilson and Dwight Wilson Sr, always told
her to “Stay true to yourself or Chase after your dreams”.My mother’s family went through
struggle which endured her to be the strong woman she is today.
Kimberly is an hardworking,independent,and loving type of woman.Kimberly worked
hard for everything she has.At the age of 19 she was working to give anything that her siblings
or parents wanted.When Kimberly gave birth to my sister,brother,and I she had to work 3 times
as hard to give her children everything they needed and wanted.
Kimberly’s past experiences made her the strong and powerful woman she is today.My
mother is the hardest worker I ever met in my entire life.My mother’s struggle has been through
life struggles to getting Physically hurt to almost getting killed,but my mother survived it all.
Kimberly is now working a good paying job so she does not have to struggle taking of 3
children, and if I could risk as much as she has done for me,I would do the same because she
deserve the world.My sister Ariana,my brother Adrian, and me she has risked a lot jus for our
happiness.My mother Kimberly Su Yung Wilson is known for her fearlessness,her strength,and
her creativeness and I wouldn’t trade my mom for anything in the world she is the best mom and
deserve the world because she will try everything in her power to make sure that her family is
safe and secure.
Kimberly is strong,intelligent,and hardworking and I would not trade anything in the
world.
My Step-Dad
By Oneilia Mullings
CJ is my step-dad. He is a really nice, caring person. He’s always looking out for others
and puts his family before himself. I met him 6 years ago when I was 7. He’s taught me a lot of
things and he’s always looked out for me. He’s the person I know today because of football, his
wife, and his parents.
CJ started playing football in high school until he was thirty-eight. It was his favorite
sport through his life and he won many awards from it. He also met his closest friends through
football and he still watches it to this day.
Carol, his wife and my mother, she helped to be a better person and take care of
himself. She cleaned up his act and helped him go through his grandmother passing away. His
best memories are with her and all she’s done for him. Carol was a very positive influence on
him.
His parents were also a very positive influence on Cj. They helped him throughout his
entire life and still today. They encouraged him and made him the best person he could be.
They made him a better dad and husband and always brought out the best in him.
In conclusion, CJ was influenced by football, his wife, and his parents. They all had a
positive influence on his life and build him up as a person. He might just my step-father, but has
been treating me like I’m his own daughter.
Charlene C. Gerald: A Women Of Faith
By Ramiyah Gerald
My grandmother Charlene C. Gerald has experienced many life lessons.
Many of these lessons has shaped her into the person she is today. She was a
quiet child who got mixed up with the wrong crowd in her teenage years. Once
she had her first child she realized that life was not a big game and it was time
to grow up. My grandmother was influenced by the people around her, her
childhood, and her career choice.
My grandmother was influenced by her parents especially her dad. They
always pushed her to be better and do good things. They taught her that
working hard pays off and that nothing comes easy. She watched her father
work hard to take care of his family. After watching her father work so hard she
decided she did not want to work for anyone and opened her own business.
My grandmothers childhood left lasting memories. Her childhood was
filled with loving memories of her family. Every sunday after church her dad
would take their family to see the airplanes takeoff. She enjoyed this time with
her father and this taught her that family is the most important thing in this
world. Growing up my grandmother got into a lot of fights because she wanted
to protect her family. Her parents did not like when she fought so they taught
her violence does not solve problems. They taught her that walking away from
fights make you a bigger person. This lesson opened my grandmother’s eyes.
My grandmother chose a career that allowed her to help people. As a
nurse she cared for people when they were sick. She loved this job because
helping people is her passion. After her nursing career she decided to open her
own cleaning business. My grandmother was very proud because she was the
first women in her family to own a business.
In conclusion, my grandmother was influenced by the people around
her, her childhood, and her career choice. My grandmother was influenced by
her parents. My grandmother’s childhood left lasting memories. My
grandmother chose a career that allowed her to help people. She is an amazing
women who took the advice that others in her life gave her and ran with it and
is now an amazing daughter, sister, friend, mother and grandmother.
By Tatiana Ferguson
My nana’s grandma was the biggest influence on her life. What she learned is that you
treat people the way you want to be treated. If you live by that, you will live a wonderful life.
Also, when she earned her teaching degree she told her, “You have the education and
knowledge, but when you walk in that classroom teach from your heart.” My grandmother’s
identity has been influenced by her personality, her environment, and several important events.
My loving, caring, nana has been influenced by her personality. My nana’s personality is
conservative. You can tell because of how she wears her hair, how she dresses, and how she
interacts with others. Her style of “going natural” with her hair means she tries new experiments.
Her accent colors are very bright when she accessories which shows that she’s very open minded
even though she wears dark colors. Many people think she would be mean because of her dark
colored clothes, but Nana is very sweet and a kind person. She tries to be honest all the time, she
is a friendly person, she does not hold grudges, and she’s also a very forgiving person.
The environment Nana grew up in has also greatly influenced the person that she is
today. My nana was a coal miner’s daughter. She was born in a coal camp called Pams, West
Virginia. Every man in the miner town worked in the coal mine. So the town was divided into
black tams and white tams, the town was separated by a bridge because of segregation. My nana
and the kids she played with at night had to respect every adult, and they had upstanding
manners. They always said “Mr. or Mrs.” and “yes ma’am or no ma’am.” Everybody always
played outside. They’d play games like red rover, jack rocks, marvels, hide and seek, and the
girls played with paper dolls, and the boys played cowboys and Indians. Nana’s parents never
had to call her and her siblings in because when the sun went down and the light pole came on
real slowly, the kids knew that it was time to go in. They all quickly ran home. The
neighborhood was friendly. All in all her environment she grew up in made her an independent
women.
There were several important events that shaped who Nana is today. One of these
significant events was when her parents died. The hardest thing that she had to do in her life was
to adjust to life without her parents. Even though she was an adult when she lost her parents it
was still very difficult and she felt like an orphan. She thought that she couldn’t go on in life, but
then she realized that they would want her to live her best life. Another encounter when she
experienced failure was when all teachers in Virginia Beach City Schools had to take a computer
literacy test. The first time Nana took the test she failed being in her 40’s this was the first test
she had failed. She learned that you don't stop because you failed. She knew she had to pass, so
the next week, so she took the test and passed. Her kids laughed because it was humiliating.
“Don’t be ashamed to admit your failure,” is what she said. This is why these several events in
my nana’s life changed her.
Ephesians 2:10 is her favorite words of wisdom stating, “For we are God’s masterpieces.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long
ago”. She likes this verse because a masterpiece is something very special. A masterpiece is
expensive, and if she is a masterpiece then that means that she is the best. Nana has to take her
best and show it to other people. That’s how she’ll know she is made to be special worth
something like jewelry. When people say negative things about her, she does not worry because
she is a masterpiece. Calling herself a masterpiece and going through obstacles has made her a
great, supportive, wonderful, kind, and beautiful lady. As a person, she would like to be
remembered as somebody that went out of her way to help others. For this, she is who she is
today.
The life of a Homeless Kid
By Troy Ross
When I interviewed my dad, we talked about what his life was like when he was young.
When he was at a very young age, his mom moved away, and his dad went to jail. After he was
alone, he became homeless. Levar had to take care of his dad's businesses and figure out how to
live without help from anyone. He would have to learn how to defend himself from getting
jumped by other kids and robbed by older people. My dad is the person that he is today because
of his childhood, his caring nature, and the jobs he has had.
My dad has been influenced by things that happened in his childhood. M y dad is a person
who is not what most people expect. He wants to make other people’s lives better. He completes
his goals when he want to complete them as long as no one interferes with his goals. H e has
made many people happy with the music he produced. Even though his opinions are not what
most people believe, most people still like him. When he was a child, he did not have his parents
with him and ended up being homeless. While he was homeless, he had to teach himself things
like how to read, and know where he is at during times. These difficult childhood events have
shaped him.
My dad doesn't care for people because he wants them to like him, he does it because he
wants them to enjoy their life. He has always helped people when they asked for help and
provided people with the things the people need. He helps and cares for other people more than
himself. But a lot of people do not care about him. Most people just use him for his knowledge
and support. If he wasn't there for the times when people needed him, many people would not be
where they are right now or be alive.
My interviewee is a person who is not what most people expect. He wants to make other
people’s lives better. He completes his goals when he w ant to complete them as long as no one
interferes with his goals. He has made many people happy with the music he produced. Even
though his opinions are not what most people believe, most people still like him. When he was a
child, he did not have his parents with him and ended up being homeless. While he was
homeless, he had to teach himself things like how to read and know where you are at all times.
A Mother Excited - Hard Life
By Xavier Hardin
My mom said that her life as a kid was very fun and exciting. My mom didn’t really like growing up
with parents, brothers, and sister. My mom always had good grades when she was in school and always tried
going for principal list. My mom’s life was really hard a lot of times because of going back and forth between
her parents’ houses. My mom’s life has been greatly influenced by her personal life, family, and her life
growing up as a kid.
My mom’s life growing up was pretty hard because her parents got a divorce when she was 7 years old.
My mom’s childhood was very fun and exciting because she always went outside and played with her friends
and siblings. Every Christmas, my mom and her siblings got bikes, and then they played with them , and then
lost them a week later. My mom played basketball for 2 years in high school and was really good at it and won
a lot of trophies. My mom's life growing up as a kid was fun and hard.
My mom, Joy, wants her achievement in life to be the greatest mother for her children like my great
grandma was to her children. Joy and my great grandma had the same first name and they both acted the same a
lot. My mom was the same as my great grandma in that they both liked laying down, drinking coffee, and
watching TV. One summer, my mom woke up in the morning and forgot to put the filter on the coffee and the
coffee beans were everywhere. Then, a week later my great grandma had done the same thing , so they called it
“pulling a Joy.” My mom, Joy, wants her two children to be successful and that would make her feel like the
greatest mother.
My mom, Joy, said the hardest thing in her life was
having a baby physically. My mom has two sons, their names
are Xavier and Triston, and they help her a lot. All my mom
wants is for her two sons to go to college and go
anywhere in the world that they want to go. My mom cares
about a lot of people, but the two she cares about the most is her
sons. My mom says that her two sons are her everything and that
she shouldn’t be alive without her two sons.
During the interview, my mom told me a lot about her life growing up and what difficulties she had to face.
However, during the interview she told me she had to do a lot when she became a mother. My mom had to do a lot of
things because my real dad left when I was three months old. When my mom, Joy, was in her 20’s, she had blonde hair
and was a single parent taking care of a little baby. Joy didn’t know what to do when my dad left because she was a single
parent with a job and a baby. My mom, Joy, faced a lot of problems in her life, but with me and my brother she can face
those problems.
SUCH LITTLE TIME
By Zhymir Alexander
¨In the end, I am still the same person.¨ -Shirmaine Alexander said this quote to say that
throughout your life, by the time it ends, you’re still yourself. Shirmaine Alexander, a social and
hard working woman, is also the mother of two children. This...is her life.
Shirmaine was born in Jackson, Mississippi, but she was raised in a small town called
Yazoo City. She would have stayed in Jackson, but her family had to leave their home due to an
extreme house fire, which burned all of Shirmaine´s family memories with it. A few months
later, her parents moved to Yazoo City to start a new peaceful life in the countryside. Starting a
corn farm, and a hog-pin, she usually tended to it with her father and family members.
As she got older, she became more and more social in the country and got used to it. She
often had nothing to do out in the country, and she had a solution to it, which were often
imaginary games played with her friends. They were mostly her family members which were
most of her town’s community. The group of friends she played games with were mostly made
up of cousins and her sister, who has her back still to this day. Shirmaine´s father was often not
home. He was a busy doing farm work, or out doing errands for the farm to keep the family
business running.
Soon, Shirmaine started school, and she blew through the grades with flying colors. But
when she started high school, things took a turn for the worst. Math became a very difficult
subject for her to keep up with, and usually she had such a rough time gripping on the
subject.That she had to repeat algebra 1. Soon enough, luck later went onto her, as her math
teacher had decided to take her to tutoring sessions. After going through Algebra and taking her
tutoring sessions 1 once more, she flew through the class with flying colors.
When completing through the rest of highschool, Shirmaine went to at Kee Business
college to become an assistant nurse, which she completed. Soon enough, she had 2 children and
now lives in a great home in Virginia Beach with a well paying job.
Everything she has done her life, every enjoyable moment, and every devastating
moment has led up to who she is now. Most people don’t realize the amount of time they have in
one life is very short, so live it to the fullest.