Throughout our childhood and young adulthood, we are constantly trying to understand who we are and what our purpose is. Whether that means trying new things left and right in the hopes of figuring out what you want to be or whether that means throwing ourselves into a different environment in order to find out if that's who we are. The process of self-discovery is not so simple that it literally takes a lifetime. Everything we do and everything we have experienced has shaped us. In order to have our own identity, we must examine our backgrounds and experiences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The course tells where you are, how you do things, and can determine your future. Throughout my life I thought I was middle class or at least lower middle class, but I recently learned that I am working class. Being part of the working class allowed me to appreciate the things I was given and the opportunities presented to me. I realized that I was a hard-working person driven by something better than what I grew up with, to give my future children a better life. The similarity of my race and ethnicity taught me not only to work hard, but also to do above and beyond what was expected of me. It taught me the importance of family, staying united and always respecting elders. The expectations of my race are to stay in the working class and be workers. I don't want to be the stereotypical Latina who stays home looking after the kids, cooking and cleaning. I am not going to let men, as is the case in my ethnicity, run the household and dictate what should and should not be done. I will fight against outdated ideas and stereotypes. Likewise, I will do the same thing when it comes to my gender “norms.” The world is changing at a rapid pace and so are people's mentalities. Equally important is the impact of my family, religion, school, and government on my personality and beliefs. Growing up in a predominantly immigrant family, I was taught to be cautious in everything I do, as if I was being watched. The government added to the paranoia I grew up with. The treatment of immigrants was everywhere and was used in my home as a way to scare us when we crossed the line. It was all about avoiding things that might draw attention to yourself. In addition to the fear imposed on me as a child, I grew up with a single mother who worked constantly to feed and clothe her five children. Whenever she could, she spent all her time with us, emphasizing the importance of family and spending time with that family. In doing so, I have a strong view and value of family, which also played a role in my desire to become a teacher. My grandmother had imposed religion on her family and so made us go to a Catholic church. Catholicism was my first taste of religion, which sparked my interest and ultimately made me choose to be a religious person, even though I chose a different religion than the rest of my family. I chose to be a Christian. I have a strong belief system and rely on my religion to keep me on the right path. School was my escape and made me who I am. It was at school that I discovered my strong passion for reading and was able to truly be myself. That's what made me want to go to college.