Sejin+Paik-Finding+Your+Identity

**S****ejin Paik's Persuasive Speech: Finding Your Identity**

Pre-Writing First Part Due 9/17/09

Pre-Writing Final Part Due 9/22/09

Rough Draft Due 9/22/09 High school students generally get their identities from the school environment they are in, the modern media sources, as well as from their cultural background. From these different factors, students will sometimes copy other cultures as a way of expressing their identity.Then the question is, is there a right or wrong approach to find one’s identity? I’ll come back to this. Students’ of mixed cultures and experiences should have the choice to make their own unique identity. So in today’s speech, lets take a look at how people act, how other’s judge people, and lastly, think of some solutions.

Have any of you heard the terms twinkies, oreos, whasians, or bananas? These terms are all basically descriptions of people who act like a different race. Twinkies for example would act like a white person, in terms of the way they dress, the people they hang out with, and the way they talk. In this case, most of us would be categorized as twinkies! Although we may laugh about this whole idea, these terms are usually used to insult those types of people. //When others look at the so-called twinkies, or oreos, they criticize people by saying that they are merely pretending without individuality and self-understanding.// However, we need to realize that as students, by acting like a white person or acting like a black person is just a way of expressing ourselves. Most students are experimenting with the different identities they can take, rather than trying to chose a lifetime identity. At least, that is what I see. There are always some extent to copying other types of people or a specific race because it could get out of hand, however, in an environment where we are stuck between an American and Korean culture, it is perfectly natural for students to experience different identities.

Now that we’ve look at the issue of how people act, lets focus more on what YOU guys, as judges, think about the whole situation. I bet that about half of the class are still wondering how in the world can pretending to be someone else a good thing. Well, lets just take a step back for a moment. Why did I impose this question? Why is this issue so significant? The answer is because of you guys. As judges, you are the ones making these judgements. We are the ones that are insulting others, We are the ones that are pointing figures at. Without the judgement of others, no terms such as twinkies or oreos would exist. There would be no pretending to fit in. We need to let people be who they want to be. They have the right to express their interests and their choices. It is not a matter of us judging them to be something they are not. And as we change back from being judges to students, we cannot let others judge us. We have the right to control our identity and the decisions we make. It may seem hard especially in a high school environment, however, taking a look in long term effect, people will know you for who you are with a unique identity. It is not about finding one’s identity, but it is the judgement that peers make upon others that causes the problem.

Since we’ve looked at the problems of not being able to freely express one’s identities, lets think of solutions to solve this problem. First, think in long terms. Think about when we go to college and the types of people we’ll meet. And even later in society, what we’ll we be known as? A person who knows exactly who they are and can build their own identity or someone who always listens to what other people has to say? Second, don’t be afraid to try out new things and experiment with yourself. That is what high school is all about! Honestly, KIS does not have gangsters, where if you do something absolutely absurd, they will take you out of class and beat you down. Even if we did, we have Mr. Otis. The thing is, we are in a great environment where most people have lived abroad or have taste a bit of a different culture in their life, so everyone can somehow relate in terms of that. No one will and will not have the right to point out things that you chose to do. Thirdly, believe in yourself. Don’t think about reputation or what others may think of you, but have pride in yourself. Take charge of your life. I want everyone to just list all the friends they have in your mind. Think about who they are, what they mean to you, and how they treat you. What kind of influence have they given you? Though these questions may seem ordinary, if we really dig deep into the meaning, there can be surprising results.

I asked in the beginning, is there a right or wrong approach to find one’s identity, absolutely not. It is okay to be a twinkie, it is okay to be a banana, it is okay to be an oreo, as long as we know what is the right choice for us.

Rough Draft 9/22/09:

Final Draft Due 9/23/09

Sejin Paik 9/23/09 E Block Loss Of Identity

High school students generally get their identities from the school environment they are in, the modern media sources, as well as from their cultural background. From these different factors, students will sometimes copy other cultures as a way of expressing their identity. Then the question is, is there a right or wrong approach to find one’s identity? Students’ of mixed cultures and experiences should have the choice to make their own unique identity. So in today’s speech, lets take a look at how people act, how other’s judge people, and lastly, think of some solutions. Have any of you heard the terms twinkies, oreos, whasians, or bananas? These terms are all basically descriptions of people who act like a different race. Twinkies for example would act like a white person, in terms of the way they dress, the people they hang out with, and the way they talk. In this case, most of us would be categorized as twinkies! Although we may laugh about this whole idea, these terms are usually used to insult those types of people. //When others look at the so-called twinkies, or oreos, they criticize people by saying that they are merely pretending without individuality and self-understanding.// (Counterclaim) However, we need to realize that as students, by acting like a white person or acting like a black person is just a way of expressing themselves. Most students are experimenting with the different identities they can take, rather than trying to chose a lifetime identity. At least, that is what I see. There should always be some limits to copying other types of people or a specific race because it could get out of hand, but in an environment where we are stuck between American and Korean cultures, it is perfectly natural for students to explore different identities. One day during dinner, my dad brought up a story about an Indian guy he worked with. My dad was shocked at the fact that his friend would not eat anything in a restaurant that they went to… because all the dishes contained meat. No matter how hungry the friend was, he could not dare to take a bite of something that he believed was a sin. His views, while different than my father’s, were no less equal in their importance. This moved me. Culture is something that we cannot judge; it is something we have to learn.(Anecdote) Now that we’ve look at the issue of how people act, lets focus more on what YOU, as judges, think about the whole situation. I bet that about half of the class are still wondering how in the world can pretending to be someone else a good thing. Well, lets just take a step back for a moment. Why did I impose this question? Why is this issue so significant? The answer is because of you as an audience. As judges, you are the ones making these judgements. We are the ones that are insulting others; we are the ones that are pointing fingers at others. Without the judgement of others, no terms such as twinkies or oreos would exist. There would be no pretending to fit in. We need to let people be who they want to be. They have the right to express their interests and their choices. It is not a matter of us judging them to be something they are not. And as we change back from being judges to students, we cannot let others judge us. We have the right to control our identity and the decisions we make. It may seem hard especially in a high school environment, but taking a look in long term effect, people will know you for who you are with a unique identity. It is not about finding one’s identity, but it is the judgement that peers make upon others that causes the problem. Since we’ve looked at the problems of not being able to freely express one’s identities, lets think of solutions to solve this problem. First, think in long terms. Think about when we go to college and the types of people we’ll meet. And even later in society, what we’ll we be known as? //A person who knows exactly who they are and can build their own identity or someone who always copies what other people do?(Rhetorical Question)// Second, don’t be afraid to try out new things and experiment with yourself. //That is what high school is all about! Honestly, KIS does not have gangsters, where if you do something absolutely absurd, they will take you out of class and beat you down. Even if we did, we have Mr. Otis.// (Allusion)The thing is, we are in a great environment where most people have lived abroad or have tasted a bit of a different culture in their life, so everyone can somehow relate in terms of that. No one will and will not have the right to point out things that you chose to do. Thirdly, believe in yourself. Don’t think about reputation or what others may think of you, but have pride in yourself. Take charge of your life. I want everyone to just list all the friends you have. Think about who they are, what they mean to you, and how they treat you. What kind of influence have they given you?Though these questions may seem ordinary, if we really dig deep into the meaning, there can be surprising results. I asked in the beginning, is there a right or wrong approach to find one’s identity, absolutely not. //Having Identity is like the idea of no snowflakes are alike; although having an identity may// //be very similar to others, they can never be exactly the same because everyone comes in different environment and background. (Analogy)//It is okay to be a twinkie, it is okay to be a banana, it is okay to be an oreo, as long as we are exploring who we are and through it, creating our own identity. File: