Write By Example Of This Becoming Who We Are Essay

At birth, everyone is equal; no child is born a criminal or a president. During growth and development is when a child’s character and qualities slowly appear. These characters and qualities are usually influenced by the environment one lives, as well as the decisions imposed on the child by their parents. Decisions such as the name given to the child, their home, siblings, social class, and the child’s gender are all out of an individual’s control. However, whom a person grows to become depends on the individual’s decisions and actions. It is within their control. This essay illustrates how who an individual turns out to be could be influenced by their background. It also discusses how the decisions one makes have an impact on changing the individual’s eventual personality while drawing examples from the book ‘True Notebooks’ by Mark Salzman.
If people could personally determine certain aspects of their lives such as where to be born and in what social class, then it likely that a large number would make different choices from the once designated to them. Therefore, whom people are is also dependent on the kind of life that their parents make for them. For example, in True Notebooks, the shy and innocent-looking Kevin Jackson lives in a neighborhood where “women, bullets, and beer” are the order of the day. An environment that he did not choose by himself but depended on his parents’ decision of where to live. This surrounding is what led him to make poor life choices that resulted in him being a juvenile law offender. Moreover, the choices people make could be considered as just an adjustment of the pre-set life in which they are born; a hindrance to who they are. However, once the individuals grow past a certain age, they can begin making big decisions that can affect their personal lives in a big way. At such a time, the limitations to whom they can become is significantly reduced.
Many boundaries are already set for people right from birth. As a result, it is up to the individuals to drive themselves towards their desired life destinations. For some people, the conditions could be favorable to them to achieve what they desire. For instance, when a famous basketball player was born tall, his body is favorable to him to play basketball. While another short person can be just as interested in becoming a basketball player but their body was not favorable to them, so they do not have as much potential for becoming a basketball player.
Two major factors determine an individual’s character. The first one is the situation that the individual was born. This factor, being one that is out of the person’s control, plays a major role in their life. It gives the person their first path in life. The other factor is the decision that the individual makes to determine their desired path in life. As people follow their dreams and what they wish to achieve in life, their capabilities and willingness play a major role in getting them where they want to reach. For example, in the True Notebook, some of the juvenile delinquents were in for burglary crimes. They may have desired riches but their capability to maybe start a business were small, and this influenced, their decision to steal. However, they could have made the right choice and opt to make money in a genuine way.
In conclusion, the fact that people are born in different families, with various backgrounds and have different capabilities, preferences and goals are what make the world complete and diverse. People follow different paths in life to find happiness. It is everybody’s opportunity to make the most or the least out of life.