How The Past Has Shaped My Identity

WHERE DOES YOUR STORY BEGIN?

Do you remember your fondest childhood memory? If you picture yourself when you were five years old, what is the first picture that comes to mind? I recall myself running behind my childhood home during spring and summer, picking blossomed flowers, holding them with innocence, without thinking they would eventually die.

From our first cry as babies, the world exposes itself to us, and from there, we embark on an unforeseeable journey of self-discovery. Without warning, we are faced with overcoming life’s unexpected challenges. Our culture and surroundings influence our thoughts, the food we eat, the way we dress, our interactions with others, and who we are.

Perhaps, from chimp to human, history helps us understand the concepts of growth and evolution; the circle of life. Then comes a point in life where you remember you once wore shoes that were the size of your grown-up hands. In our teenage years or early adulthood, many of us ask ourselves questions bigger than us, and our minds explode. We ponder upon who we want to be in the world, which path to carve for ourselves, what fires up passion in our hearts, and what career to pursue, and the list is endless. I hope you know you are not alone. Many of us go through lost avenues before finding our way.

When I started learning English at twelve years old through music, inspiring song lyrics led me to googling the definition of words and reading quotes in English as my second language. Doing this became enjoyable enter tainment for me. However, no one else my age seemed to think so. Inspired by rhythmic words and their meanings, my journey has led me to being a poet and author today.

At the beginning of my author’s journey, childhood scars came back to the surface. I lacked confidence in my uniqueness. I feared standing out without intentionally wanting to. My interests were different from others my age. I was quieter, constantly observing the world passing by. Today, I’ve learned to accept myself,despite others telling me for years thatI did not fit in as a child. For a long time, I was afraid of being noticed and seen, but today I am an occasional model and getting out of my comfort zone has taught me a lot about myself and I know it can teach a lot to you too. I hope you learn to be gentle to yourself and embrace the experiences that made you who you are today. Looking back on my childhood helped me understand my fears and my

denial of being an old soul. How did your childhood impact who you are today?

Whilst experiences from the past cannot completely define who we are today as we keep learning from our mistakes and mentally grow, they help us understand the foundation of ourselves. As the years go by, we unconsciously form our identity and absorb subtle messages from our environments. The people in our lives and our culture also play a part in shaping our identity. Our

by Françoise Hélène

own and ancestors’ histories are tools that give us insight into who we have become, both genetically and mentally.

The past connects us with the present and future from many angles. Not only does it explain the evolution of technology, governmental systems, wars, and society as a whole, it helps us develop empathy for others and ourselves. History reveals the fundamentals of our identity, and both the importance of historical contexts and self-identity are not to be forgotten in today’s world. Perhaps the self-discovery journey is long-lasting and timeless. The winding roads aren’t always easy to travel, but you will get through them. Many of us have struggled to accept where we came from, the roots of our being, and to look at ourselves in the mirror with full confidence and self-love. Do not fear to visit the past. Go deep into your roots and understand yourself better. Get to know others but don’t forget to unfold your own story because if you live someone else’s life, whose life are you living? WHERE DOES YOUR STORY BEGIN?

Model: Françoise Hélène Photography: Songju Kang