Who am I?

     I used to think that things you like, like sports or shopping helped make up who you are, and to some degree they do. But why is it that I am a cubs fan? Why do I prefer to go to Northbrook Court over Hawthorne shopping center? Why do I value the things I do?Where I grew up makes me who I am. How I was raised makes me who I am.  The American culture, and the subculture of my friends and my community make me who I am. My race and my social class even play apart. Taking Sociology has helped me understand more about myself and my surroundings. I've learned that everything around me has had some sort of influence and has helped shaped me into who I am today. 
       One factor that I think shapes me the most as to who I am today, is my social class. I learned that in every social class, each one values something else. Because I am not at the top of the totem pole, I value hard work and motivation to better my social standing. I basically follow the American Dream. 
     Another social factor that has really shaped me into who I am today are various aspects of culture. Overall, American culture values a large media outlet. Therefore I enjoy being instantly gratified by the internet, or watching the latest episode of my favorite television show.  It is rare to be in pure silence without a TV or iHome on in the background. The subculture of where I live, also makes me value different things that someone who lives in Austin or Sacramento. The subculture that has shaped me has made my value nice things, and because of my social class, I have the hard work and dedication to achieve what I want. 
     The newest part of me is the appreciation and realization, that there are all different types of people out there in this world. Before sociology,I was always looking up, comparing myself to more wealthy people and seeing what I don't have. Now, however, after serving the impoverished at a soup kitchen, it made me see how fortunate I am. I did not only get a good feeling doing something for someone else who really needs it, but I got a self-esteem boost as well. It also made me realize that these people on the streets who are in need are people. What I mean is that they have feelings and needs and wants and realizing that has made me a more open minded and giving. 
     


    
     
     

Behind the mask

Wouldn't it be nice that even though you completely bombed your geology test,  you still got an A- on it because you tried hard? Better yet, you and your teacher have a bunch of inside jokes and likes you enough to bump up your grade just so you can pass? School would be a piece of cake. If you're a "Saint," life is just so.
During that week in class, we read an excerpt from "Saints and Roughnecks." The Saints, were upper class, handsome, had a good family background and seemed like perfect little angels to the community. In reality, however, they were ditching classes and being hooligans. Although they were not following the laws of society, they never got in trouble for anything because they were always super polite and had good manners. The yang to the Saints were the Roughnecks: the lower class students that were rude and vulgar. Even though they were both participating in the same deviance's, like cutting class, the Saints got off the hook while the Roughnecks were sitting in detention after school.
Saints and Roughnecks have no ceased to exist. They are still around today. In fact, there are definitely S&R's in any school. If an all-star football player who just won state for the school arrives to English Class 10 minutes past bell along with the school "bully," it is more likely the teacher will give the detention slip to the meanie.
If everyone is born equally, why isn't everyone given the same chance to show their true colors? Instead, we are all masked by social factors, like class or background.