Essay on Past experiences shape identity - 1969 Words

â€Å"Past Experiences Shape Identity† Many believe that whatever situations have happened in the past should be left in the past. To others, the past holds a special place in their hearts because it has helped in shaping the person they have become today. One should always appreciate his or her ancestors and the struggles they have gone through throughout history such as slavery in order to bring us to where we are today. Though negativity can affect past experiences one should not dwell on it, but learn to move forward and look for the positive aspects of life. Without the past there wouldn’t be any great myths, any personal memories, and nothing for our future generations to learn from. Past experiences also helps people to learn from†¦show more content†¦This was their way of degrading Margaret as many white people did to the African Americans in the south post-slavery. Mrs.Cullinan never cared whether or not Margaret liked the name given to her. Though it took away part of Margaret’s identity, Mrs. Cullinan only cared whether it benefited her sake. She made it seem that since Margaret was an African American, she wasn’t important. By changing her seem that since Margaret was an African American, she wasn’t important. By changing her name, Mrs. Cullinan may have felt that it was her way of controlling Margaret and saying that Margaret belonged to her. Deeply affected, Margaret gets revenge on Mrs. Cullinan by breaking her glass dishes. Margaret then gains back the respect of being called Margaret (Angelou 7-8). Experiences like the experience with Mrs. Cullinan changed Angelou for the better. Using the negative experiences she encountered as a child has helped her to move toward a positive life. Writing about her experiences while growing up in the south has shaped her into becoming a famous African American writer and poet. Some past experiences only prove that although things may get tough and there is negativity around, one can still look at it in a positive way and still be proud of their identity even though others like them may not see it that way. Like Angelou, Hurston remembers growingShow MoreRelatedPast Experiences Shape Identity1991 Words   |  8 PagesPast Experiences Shape Identity Many believe that whatever situations have happened in the past should be left in the past. To others, the past holds a special place in their hearts because it has helped in shaping the person they have become today. One should always appreciate his or her ancestors and the struggles they have gone through throughout history such as slavery in order to bring us to where we are today. Though negativity can affect past experiences one should not dwell on it, butRead MoreThe Impacts Of Ashima In A Gentle Memory1468 Words   |  6 Pagesone of those memories impacts who we are and who we become as a person: they shape our identities. It is important to realize that concept when we are living in a globalized world when we are interacting with people of different background. Acknowledging that fact help us find common grounds and do not pay attention to the details of our differences as much. In this paper, it is shown that past memories shape one’s identity and the reader can see that through the character of Ashima in The NamesakeRead MoreSkin - We Can Only Understand Our Identity Once We Acknowledge Our Past.992 Words   |  4 PagesOne’s identity is who or what a person is and how they are perceived by themselves and others. Your identity defines who you are and where you fit in. It is a self-representation of your interests, relationship, social activity and much more. 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This journey will help us see what makes us different