abridged+Phase+I

// ---Simple English, abridged version--- // // For the full version click here //
 * // Who Am I? What’s my Place in the World? //** // Dr. Candy Beal //

Life is full of questions. Two of the hardest ones are:
 * Who am I?
 * What is my place in the world?

As we grow up we change how we think about ourselves. There are many ways to explain how grow up and develop our identity. The more we know about how we develop our identity, the better we can understand ourselves. Self-knowledge gives us the power to make good choices. In this essay you will learn about some of the theories that explain how we grow and develop our personal identities.

The biggest changes in personal development happens in adolescence or those middle years between childhood and adulthood. In these middle years, young people like yourself may have new friends. You might even try out different groups of friends. With one group of friends you might behave one way. With another group of friends you might behave another way. As young adults, you will need to ask yourself which group makes you feel the most comfortable? Which group seems to be the most like you? In other words, which identity fits you best?

Another theory from Howard Gardner explains how we deal with moral problems. His ideas describe the consequences and opportunities that come with tough choices that you have to make as you grow up. For example, you may need to think about what’s the best for others as well as what’s best for you.

Knowing and understanding these theories gives you the power to know yourself and others better. You can __predict__ what’s coming next, and not just __hope__ for the best. You have more control over your life and future. As a student you are able to make much wiser choices, both academic and social.

Others theories focus on how outside influences play a role in shaping who we are. One theory from Urie Bronfenbrenner, describes the complex social communities we all live in. The main idea is that adolescents live in four personal social systems that include the home, school, our peers and the community. Around these connected personal social systems are more complex systems. You might not have control over the things that happen in these systems such as a family moving to a new town, parents changing/losing jobs, new schools opening. Finally, an outer system surrounds all of the other systems. This outer system represents the values of a culture or of a society including leaders, artists, athletes, business and governmental leaders, etc., who play a role in influencing our culture and our lives. They may be people who can be role models or it may be the form of government or types of religion that strongly influence a region or a country. The more connected these systems are, the more support we have for what we do. Here is a diagram that illustrates Bronfenbrenner's theoretical systems.

Now that we have learned about theories of personal development, we can think about our own identity.

In our early years we normally think just about ourselves. We often ask the question, who am I? As we grow older, we begin to ask how can I fit into the world and make a difference or what’s my place in the world? We start to think about other people, other cultures, others countries and the problems in our world. We realize that we are all part of the family of man. This doesn’t mean that we do not still worry about what’s in it for me and how will the solution to the problem affect me. What it means is that we begin to realize that sometimes the good of all must come before our own interests and wishes.

The progression of questions from **//you- focused//** to **//others-oriented//** is easy to follow.

A **//you-focused//** question might be, “How can **I** get along with my peers?”

An **//others-oriented//** approach to the same type of issue, but on a global scale, would be, “Why can’t **countries** get along with one another?”


 * Can we make a difference? The GLIP Project can help **

The GLIP project will give you the chance to make your voice heard as you work with others around the world to investigate problems and suggest possible solutions. In Phase I of Glip the focus is on you. We are asking you to answer the big questions Who am I? and What is my place in the world?

Phase II will enable us to know more about your sense of place. We will ask you to think about the place where you live and select and share a picture of this place. You will then tell us about the picture you have selected and tell us how the picture represent you and who you are.

Phase III is called “making a difference.” We will ask you to go back to think about issues identified in Phase I and think how we can address these issues together.


 * Next Steps in Phase I **

First, build your personal Wiki page. You will find you personal page by clicking on the left where it says "Group pages." On the next page, just click your group name. After you do that please edit your page to answer these questions so we can learn more about you. You will see that your page already has these questions on the page. You just need to fill in the answers!


 * What __really__ makes up your identity?
 * What __really__ makes up your sense of place?
 * What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project?
 * What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group?
 * What is one local problem (where you live) that you believe needs to be addressed? Suggest some steps could you take to try to solve it?
 * Finally, some problems have been around for a long time. What qualities do you think a person must have to step up and try to solve them?


 * Conclusions **

Our project has people from all over the world who what to know you and your perspective better. When they know and understand your “world,” they can help suggest actions and solutions to your problem. It’s the old “two heads are better than one.”

Let’s not wait and pass these problems on to another generation. That’s what’s been done in the past. It’s time to step up. Let’s work together and bring our new understanding of each other’s “worlds” to our global table to help look for answers to problems we believe matter.

It’s important to get beyond the stereotypical views of others and their states/countries. Stereotypes are destructive things. They prejudice your views and can make meaningful work with world neighbors impossible. We have big problems all over this planet and we all need to be part of the discussion to find solutions. Won’t you be part of the conversation? Mother Earth needs YOUR input and would appreciate your help.