For many years, I was defined by what others thought of me. As a student, this was mainly done through report cards - a number and a comment on my academic progress. After all, at seventeen, it's hard to feel as though I have already established my identity.
Perhaps what distinguishes me is the fact that I am still (and will, most likely, always be) searching for a better way to define myself. As a naturally inquisitive person, I want to take every opportunity to mature and develop my identity and personal character. I acknowledge that there's as much I need to learn about myself as I do about the world around me. I cherish the freedom to explore these unknowns and make my own difficult decisions, if only to learn more about myself from the outcome of my actions.
In essence, I believe that my experiences, whether positive or negative, would best define me. Experiences such as my visit to a small, rural village in Kenya, where I was able to play a game of soccer with young students with whom I'd spent weeks fostering a bond. Or, the opportunity to teach English in a seemingly timeless orphanage in Hebei, China. Playing soccer, making paper cranes, or learning from adolescent kung-fu masters might not seem "earth-shaking" or remarkable, but they were extraordinary occasions spent with extraordinary people. What I'd like to do is define myself by what I've learned through chances such as these, and one day help others who aspire to find their own sense of self.
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