personal identity

HSC 310 – Community-Engaged Health Promotion Department of Health Sciences

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST BAY Fall Semester 2020 - Personal Identity Essay

Up to this point in the course, students have spent time exploring their personal identity through an individual brainstorm and discussion with a family member. Each student should have also started the process of recognizing the limitations of expressing his/her/their identity through in class activities. These reflections provide a foundation from which individuals are able to formulate and articulate their personal identity. The purpose of this essay is for students to introspectively express this in written form. Recognition of one’s own personal identity at this point in time is necessary to understand dimensions, characteristics, and worldviews shared by others in the same manner.

In an integrated and logical essay, students should provide in-depth descriptive responses to the following prompts (i.e., this should not be singular answers to each “question”). The content of the essay should demonstrate critical reflection and exploration of various dimensions of identity explored in students’ brainstorms as well as those raised by classmates and family members. To the best of his/her/their ability, evidence should be provided to support the formulation of specific aspects of each student’s personal identity. The essay should conclude with how recognizing and appreciating one’s personal identity is valuable for communicating and interacting with other individuals and groups of people.

It is important that the following considerations be covered in this essay.

• What are the key dimensions (not character traits) that are important to the student? Why are they important elements of identity for the student specifically?

• How did each individual arrive at these dimensions being important for him/her/them to appreciate and express with respect to his/her/their personal identity? What interactions, experiences, and realizations were important in formulation of specific dimensions?

• What symbols, behaviors, or other characteristics are key for the student’s personal identity? Which ones are internal and/or external? Why are their differences?

• Which components of personal identity are constant? Which have changed over time? What are the reasons that some are permanent while others are fluid?

• Is it important that others understand the student’s personal identity? Why or why not? • Based on the discussion points addressed above, what are some ways that each student

recognizes dimensions of personal identity shared with others? Do perceptions of commonalities influence the ways the student interacts with those individuals?

As this essay is personal in nature, evaluation of the assignment with be based on effort demonstrating introspection, depth, and highlights of important evidence that support the student’s conclusions regarding personal identity description, formulation, and maintenance. It is crucial that all assignments should reflect the quality of work expected of college students in advanced standing and should be submitted in a manner reflecting professionalism.

Due Monday, September 21st via Blackboard by 11:59 pm – 3-4 pages double spaced