I used many adjectives to describe my identity in the study abroad application. A few of them being; brother, American, student, and Christian. Those words help create a framework for who I identify as but they do not completely define who I am.
My individual identity allows me to experience the world as a free, open-minded individual who is willing to take risks and immerse myself in different cultural ways than my own in order to develop a global perspective. I believe my identity influences me to have an individualistic approach to life as I am generally always looking for experiences where I can learn and grow. However, if I had these experiences by myself I feel as if I would not reap the full effect I would if I was sharing it with the people I am close with. That being said, I think everyone’s personal identity’s does experience different individual events and although a collective experience can offer a similar feeling for each individual involved, the experience can have different meanings for everyone. From what it seems, many people who chose to study abroad have a similar passion for the outdoors and a sense for adventure, so I think the identities of the people at the university and the country will have a mutually beneficial influence on one another.
