When it comes to my sense of self, I find myself secure with who I am. It has taken some time to feel this way, but society forces you to either find yourself or get left in the dust. Symbolic interactionism says that we develop our sense of self through our interactions with others. We communicate through various different forms.
When I’m in class, I can communicate with my professor through eye contact, nodding yes or no, smiling, paying close attention and I don’t have to say a word for him to know that I am interested in what he is saying. I don’t need to use actual words or language to allow him to know he has my full attention. I literally, okay, not literally but, I feel like taking the phone away from this incredibly rude girl in my Anthropology class that sits with her knees on the desk swiping through her phone during the whole class lecture. I could never imagine being so disrespectful.
Who I am and how I handle myself gives me pride that I was raised to respect myself and to respect others as well. Maybe it’s my culture and my upbringing that has taught me these things but especially our elders and our authority demands and deserves our respect. Different cultures demand different things. My sense of self has always been kind, nurturing, compassionate. I have never found my sense of self through posessions. I mean, who doesn’t like nice things? I get that, I just don’t need that $300 bag or those $200 shoes. I don’t pride myself on material items but instead I pride myself on being a good person and a good student.
Monika's Blog 