Identity

"Our identities emerge from within a community, for communities produce identities: We discover who we are and what we have to say through life and dialog with others." -Catherine Hobbs

There's a snag in this quote, as true as it might be- which identity is the one we choose? After discussing our blogs today in class, I left with my mind near exploding. I ran through all the communities and subsequent identities I associate with, and ended up not actually knowing who I am. What a scary thought.... who am I? Shouldn't I know by now? Then I thought some more about it, and came to the conclusion that our identities are constantly shifting-hourly, daily, weekly, monthly... you get it. Take one of my typical days, for example:

-In the morning, I go to work. I am a drone who scoops I don't KNOW how many balls of cookie dough a day. I leave smelling of a bakery.
-I go to class, where I am a faceless student with no seeming identity. It is here that I must prove myself through my voiced thoughts, appearance, demeanor.
-I come back to my apartment, where I am a roommate. The music I play defines me, as well as the way I choose to decorate my surroundings.
-In the evening, my boyfriend is around. It's during this time that I believe I am most true to myself, tearing down the facades I put up during the day. I'm relaxed. We listen to music we've shared with each other and come to mutually enjoy. We feed our heads.

This hardly says anything about me in particular, but there are so many elements of identity wrapped up in a day that it's hard to say exactly who I am.
Here's who and what I'm not:
A sorority girl
A typical Miami student
Conservative
A junk food eater
A reality-show watcher

I do, however, wish I were more informed in the ways of politics and current events, I wish I were more fitness-minded, and....

I wish I were a bit more kinky.

We also talked in class about the narcissism of the college-aged generation and that that narcissism was brought about by our parents telling us we were special and unique. I wonder what the hell is wrong with being unique?! I think above all of my identities, striving for uniqueness tops my list. While most students at Miami have been equipped with daddy's credit card and therefore gird themselves with black Northfaces and fake tans, I try my hardest not to look like that.

Like everyone else.

How can these people be called narcissistic when they share their identities with everyone around them? I say more power to the "generation ME" people for recognizing that its good to be unique, different, and not like everyone else. I value my several identities, as confusing as they might be at times, and look forward to each opportunity I come across to acquire a new one.