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In one paragraph, you will consider which institutions shaped who you are. More specifically, you'll choose one institution and examine its influence on you--and question whether you have any role in shaping that institution in turn. For example, how might religion shape your morals, beliefs, sexuality, or approach to relationships and dating?

You are not limited to religion--you can focus on schools, media, or any other institution you're interested in.

And remember, you only need to focus on one institution in your response! For example, if you select religion as an institution and want to explore its impact on shaping your value system, then just focus on religion! You can connect religion to other institutions if you want, but you don't have to!

Some examples of institutions you can consider in terms of how they shaped you as an individual and how you as an individual shape them are:

the family

media

religion

government

capitalism

racism

gender

sexual orientation

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I'm known to be an innocent and understanding person who regretes bragging about what I just typed. I got this good behavior from my parents. My parents always told me what was right and wrong. I learned that there's things we should not say, like rude words that I still don't feel comfortable typing. I learned some skills earlier than what teachers taught me like the PEMDAS Formula. I learned how to react properly in times of distress and try to use my words. I am really grateful for what they taught me.

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Throughout history women have always been designated roles that can be considered more domesticated. Whether that is to be a mother, housewife, or to be the "nurturing," one of the relationship. As discussed in class, these types of gender roles placed on women are enforced without much second thought. In my experience, because I am a girl I am always told to "act ladylike" or I am expected to carry out certain household tasks other males in the house wouldn't have to do. In school, if a teacher needed help moving equipment or carrying books they would always ask for a "strong boy" to help and if a girl in the class volunteered it would always be a shock. I am also influenced by the women around me. For example appearance wise most women dress femininely and I too follow that norm. I also believe that my gender has impacted my personality. I have always grown up shy and I believe partly that has to do with my gender - I was always quiet because that is how a "lady" should act. In regards to relationships I never sought out friendships with any guys because of the idea that men and women cannot be friends. In some way or another it has always been ingrained in my head, more indirectly, that women is supposed to appear and act a certain way, and to varying degrees I follow those expectations. By following these expectations placed on women I am also shaping the institution to uphold its current standard - but also by going against it there is room for change to occur. Women in general have made moves to shape the institution of gender in today's society by stepping out of the stereotypical role or perception of what a woman should be. Not just me alone, I believe most women have had their gender influence who they are as a person and of course this also depends on the country, religion, family, etc.

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A lot of institutions have shaped me, from media to society. The one that really has shaped me has been religion/faith. The reason behind this is I grew up catholic and even though I wasn't in the church all the time there were still norms that were followed then and now. One of them being making a cross before you leave the house every morning which is essentially a prayer to stay safe, one would also say a prayer a night. But as I grew older and changed I didn't do it as much anymore I even went through a period of doubting if there even is a god because I can't see it no one has and if they have they haven't lived to tell. I believe in everything and anything so I started believing in god again but I never really stopped I was just looking for more in depth answers. And on some level I believe I got them. But overall I just feel like there's always more questions then answers so sometimes I ask for something and I get an answer wether its from god or the universe or both.

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I was born an only child into a family whose previous male role models weren’t present. I was always told i don’t need a man, don’t depend on a man and overall to always be ready for a man to leave or deceive me due to them “just being a man”. But the truth is I am the type of person to trust a man wont deceive me, I believe a person is who they show me they are regardless gender and any stereotypes behind them. I got this belief from living an honest life and holding others to the standard with how I treat others.

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There are many institution I can say have had a role in shaping me. I believe where it all starts and mainly where I got shaped is my family. My parents and siblings have made an influenced on my morals and beliefs. While growing up I have been told by my parent how to act and behave respectfully. Their role really set my mindset to being a person with respect, kindness, and helping. Among other characteristics, an example of one perceptive my family has set up in my eyes. It's having an education and working hard. Both my parents and older siblings have set up a role molded to either working hard or having an education. My parents weren't able to get an education. I feel like because of them, that is one reason to stay in school and get higher in my education. My older siblings have an education and a careers. They push me more in school because they have gone through it. They have already set up pretty high standers in going far with an education. I don't really like school because of my past experience in school. Now seeing how my siblings did it and with parents support, along with there level of education. All I want to do is go to college and try my very best at it. A part of my myself is truly believing that education is important for me.

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Ever since quarantine the person I am, and the person I want to be has grown everyday. Thanks to my consumption of Music I've been able to have a more forgiving and open-minded attitude towards others. Being locked inside every day I had nothing better to do other than play video games and listen to music. Music has become a way for me to express myself in ways I could've never imagined. Whether it being the circles I'm involved in, the relationships I've created, or the types of clothes that I wear, all of these would have never been a part of me if it weren't for music. One of the most important people in my life I ended up meeting was because her and I had a similar taste in music. Being able to find and make that connection with someone outside of social media is something I hold highly and will not take for granted. The feeling of understanding and acceptance I get when I am able to talk about artists I like and the culture that surrounds them is one of the best. My impact back on media may not be big enough to leave a mark but, I am capable of contributing to a community and creating these same relationships with others.

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As everyone should know, shaping who you are can come in many various ways such as religion, school, Family, gender identity, etc... However, what I learned made such a great impact on who I become is racism and gender. These two really hit me hard while I was discovering who I really was. Throughout my womanhood and being an African American I learned many things, One was finding a place to fit in without allegations or assumptions just because of my race and gender would be very hard. Being brought in society where gender and race is very important caused me to be scared to be more out there and express how I really feel, I can’t do certain things is what people usually tell me sometimes because I am a woman or I have to stop feeling this way and control myself because I’m black and we don’t want to push a button; pull a trigger within their emotions. This brought me up to think people have so much power over me or I can’t hang around people who are not my skin color because they wouldn’t understand me or because I’d feel uncomfortable. This affected me in school because I went to a majority Hispanic and Latino school that I couldn’t really find my crowd because I was looked down upon. Makes me feel that I will never be able to expand my dating life with other races and won’t get to be around other races or genders. Men around me treat women badly and they look down on us so I don’t know if I’ll be able to look towards men for trust and friendship either.

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How did my family and media help me be who I am today?

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How did my family and media help me be who I am today?

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I'm the youngest and the only daughter in my family of four. My parents have always shown me and my brother to be our best and never to change who we are. But my parents come from very traditional households. When they were younger they didn’t have much money, or food, had to work at a young age, and had to drop out of school to help their families. My parents were always told and shown that the women do the things around the house, cook, clean, take care of the kids, etc. And the men go to work and bring money to the house for the bills, to buy food, and things we need, etc. My parents were shown this at a very young age and they also went through it. When my parents had me and my brother they didn’t show us this at a young age. As we got older they did little by little. I will have to help my mom make dinner, clean the house, do laundry, etc. My brother won’t do much to help me and my brother will just be doing his own thing. When my brother left for college it was all Jessica. “Jessica do this, Jessica do that, if you don’t do it who is.” I didn’t look at it as a bad thing at first but then I thought to myself “ Now in this generation, men can also cook, clean, and help around the house. Women are not the only ones that can do it.” Media helped me notice who I am today by seeing that my parents are wrong for teaching us this because nowadays you see women working and men staying at home. Whenever my parents mention that I have to do things because I’m a girl. I teach them how this has changed and that we are “the ones that are supposed to do these things”. My family has also helped me notice who I am today by seeing their point of view of things when they were growing up and how our generation changed that.

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There have been many things that shaped me into the woman I am today. But out of all of those things, I believe my family has played the biggest role. I grew up in a household where my parents always told me to go to school, be a good person, and never depend on anyone. I think these expectations came from them not having the opportunity to go to college, and get a degree, which is why they so badly wanted me to focus on my education. This shaped me to believe I needed to go to school to be successful. So, it has become a very important goal of mine to get my degree and graduate college. I want to be an independent and successful woman. And I want to make my parents proud since this is what they’ve always expected from me. They have done so much for me, so I wouldn’t want to disappoint them.

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Growing up in Vietnam, my morals and beliefs have been deeply shaped by the country’s rich cultural heritage and values. The strong emphasis on family and community in Vietnamese culture has instilled in me the importance of respect, loyalty, and maintaining harmonious relationships. The teachings of Confucianism, which influence many aspects of Vietnamese society, have reinforced values such as filial piety, humility, and a sense of duty to others. From my culture, I have learned to prioritize the collective good over individual desires, valuing modesty, hard work, and perseverance. Additionally, the significance of traditions and honoring ancestors has taught me to appreciate the wisdom of the past and the role of gratitude in daily life. This cultural foundation has guided my moral compass, influencing how I interact with others, make decisions, and view my responsibilities within my community and beyond. Vietnamese culture has also taught me how to be respectful, especially towards the elderlies and my seniors. Certain examples to show this are bowing as a greeting to the elderlies, using both hands to take or give something to them, and always saying goodbye to them whenever I’m about to leave. This indicates how much we honor our elders in my culture, and thus, it makes me also value the other elderlies from other countries as well, not just Vietnam.

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Religion is an institution that has shaped me to be who I am today. I grew up in a Muslim country (Pakistan) with a religious family which is why my religion has had a huge influence on me. My religion has shaped my morals and beliefs by teaching me what I should and should not believe and the way I should and should not behave. By reading our holy book, the Quran, and by praying the 5 daily prayers, I now have a lot of knowledge on my religion and what type of person I should be. For example, my religion teaches us to be kind, honest, truthful, respectful, passionate, curious, and hardworking. It promotes us to be good and positive people. My religion has also shaped me in different ways. For example, Muslims are not allowed to date. We can marry but we cannot date which has led me to never date because I do not want to commit sins and disobey my religious beliefs/values. My hijab also shapes me. In Islam, women are told to be modest and to cover themselves. That "piece of cloth" is not just a piece of cloth that protects/shapes me from the outside. It also influences my personality. I try my best to be kind and honest so that I do not end up disobeying my religious values to being someone who I should not be. Also, so that I do not portray a bad image of my religion to society. In the reading for this week, there was a mention of religion being a "social institution" because our religious practices can be influenced by society. For example, if Muslims are not allowed to pray in a school, then this prevents them from practicing their religion in such a place. This is the society influencing how they practice Islam. Similarly, in the Prezi for this week, there was a term introduced as "sociological imagination." How have social interactions shaped my own religious experiences? This truly depends on the society one lives in. Today, for me, I live in the Bronx which is a diverse area with many Muslims. This helps me practice my religion easily compared to if I lived in an area with a small Muslim population. Many other institutions have also shaped me such as my family, and culture, however, they all connect to religion as well. Therefore, these are some of the reasons why my religion has shaped and influenced me.

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I have been fortunate enough to have been surrounded by people who care about me a whole lot from the beginning of my life my family from my aunts and uncles to cousins have been teaching me right from wrong and other good life lessons such as how dangerous the world is how to talk to people and i still continue to learn. from how to give respect and the social norms of our world family has affected me to my very core they've made me very in tune with my culture from the foods to the celebration. family is a very big part of my identity some of my most cherished people and best friends are family since i have such a big family I've learned that you there's always enough love to go around no matter how many people are there. and i have no doubt they will continue to influence me as much as they've been good influences, they've been bad influences as well teaching me the wrong things, not setting the right example getting in to trouble or playing a part in my worst habits but that is the beauty of family you live, and you learn and there is no doubt I will continue to learn alongside my family and that is why i think there my biggest influence.

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Some may say that their family or religion shaped them on who they are. However, social media is the strongest in changing a person including myself. Everyone has some type of social media. Could be Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Tiktok, etc. It's a platform to express yourself and show who you truly are. In my experience, I used social media to help me discover what I really like. It influenced me to be who I am today. I used to always try to fit in with everyone else because I was just clueless on who I am as a person. I used to listen to the same music, dress the same, and act the same as others. I hated that feeling. I always knew I was more different and people judged me for that since I wasn't much like them. When quarantine hit, I was scrolling through instagram and tiktok 24/7. That's when I discovered new music genres and a new sense of fashion. I applied all those new different elements on myself which made me feel comfortable and more "normal". That's when my mindset of "I don't care" began. I really don't care how people think of me. I just know that I truly feel like myself and I am my own person thanks to social media influences.

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I was born being the only legal U.S. citizen in an immigrant family. That label "U.S. citizen" alone brings expectations. I'm grateful for my parents to make the sacrifices to come to this country to leave everything, and everyone. They brought my sisters too and they faced many challenges themselves and the drawbacks of being an immigrant. When I came into the picture it was a miracle but being the only one born in the U.S. I saw things differently, treated differently by own family. I was the child with all gifts and all the opportunities but I never wanted it but that wasn't an option. My sisters were the ones who made it feel that I was the lucky one that I hade everything in my hand but I was wasting it. When I got older it was hard to be happy with my accomplishments or any awards I received due to still being told that I could've done more. For example, my parents would say about me getting a 95 on a test, " why didn't you get a 100" or " you could do more extra credit". Overtime, I become doubtful on my work, my confidence, and at point I didn't have time to develop any social life. I was to scared that people would criticize me or make fun of me cause I wasn't like everyone else on the latest fashion trend, or the hottest TV show/movie, and having social media. My sisters taught me overtime to learn and to be respectful as a person that there is a lot in the real world. They explained the difference from me and my family I could do a lot more and not fear on being pushed out of the country of the fear that people at anytime can them away. That's why my family pushed me to work hard and take opportunities when given or find them. My family is not perfect but I've understood why they pushed me and made me who I am a person who is kind, hardworking, and open to try anything.

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As an only child, my parents has set a lot of expectations for me such as getting the best grades in school, showing good manners and focusing on my future career which is fine arts. They never had the chance to meet their goals of going to college and studying their majors in my age and instead had to stay with their own families. Dealing with that experience, they really wanted to push me to get the opportunities that they didn’t received and work twice as hard to become an independent young woman. Looking back right now, I remind myself to always be grateful for my parents and being very supportive about what I wanted to do after high school (going to college, getting a bachelor’s degree, studying fine arts, travel). Also teaching me to be respectful towards people that I know and people that I don’t know so well, if I show respect to them then they would show respect to me back. If I never had my parents available anywhere during that time, I wouldn’t ever gone to college, studying my major, learn how to treat others kindly and exploring other dreams perhaps being involved in the similar situation that they went through.

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Just this morning as I was walking to the campus a man had waved at me and told me I was a beautiful girl and asked when I am free. I am 17 years old, a minor, this was a grown man. All my life I had to hide behind the fact I will always have to be cautious around men whether I like it or not and it takes such a mental toll on someone who must always be aware of their surroundings. Growing up my father kept a tight leash on me and still does, rarely allowing me to go out with friends or hang out with my partner because there were always threats out in the world. Since I am a woman, anything can happen to me. "Haven't you seen the news? Look at what they did to that girl in Bronx", he would say to me when I would ask to go out. I would hate it so much because I would see my guy cousins my age out having fun while I was home watching them from my phone.

Although, nothing would compare less to what I'd receive from my aunts and uncles telling me that when I am older I'll have a white husband who I will cook and clean for and have all of his children because for some reason that was my fate instead of going to school and having a great job that I will love. Why is it that life was already determined to be a wife and maid, and my male cousins were to have as many women as they can, as if they were the Pokémon cards they used to collect when they were little. Why am I being shaped and molded into someone else's idea instead of how I want to be? All because I am a woman my ideas and opinions do not matter anymore? Why must I stay pure and innocent for my husband who I know is all dirty and used up? Why am I in the kitchen during Thanksgiving cooking while my cousins watch the game and the parade? All these things telling me what I can and cannot do, shaped into some kind of rebel in the eyes of my family and society because I do not want to do what they tell me to do. I am a woman, and because of that I meant to be strong and open-minded because that's how women were shaped to be because of how society has treated of them. A song called "Labour" by Paris Paloma has a special place in my heart since it speaks to all women on how we do ALL the labor, more than what men do, and we are NOT appreciated and are always expected to do more. A few lines from the song that always speak to me, "...therapist, mother, maid. Nymph then a virgin, nurse then a servant. Just an appendage, live to attend him. So that he never lifts a finger. 24∕7, baby machine". In just a few lines the artist explained what society wants from women, something they shall never get from me. Society has shaped me to be who I am today, and I will continue to go against their rules.

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My biggest intuition that helped shaped me was my family. They have shaped me to be the man I am today through teaching me many lessons on how to be a positive person and impact to people around me. My biggest motivators in my life who pushed me was my mother and my grandfather. Growning up an emotionally available and supportive household it I became deeply involved with emotions and self care. I have spent alot of my life doing good to others and using my strong sense of emotional intelligence to be a guide for others through mental troubles. I spent my time in highschool being somewhat of a therapist for many of my peers. Their lessons helped shaped me into a reliable person who always trys to be a bright spot in an already dim world. For others I gave hope that they believed was once lost. Bridges built through friendships and partnerships. People confided in me and felt comfortable being vulnerable around me and that is an ability that I am so grateful to have. Another big thing that helped form me was my very own values that I learned on my own through media and television. Im always trying to do better and to give people a place of comfort and kindness in a dark world full of negativity. I hold that part of myself very dearly and made my biggest inspiration myself.

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My family has shaped me in every way, from the things I've learned from them, and the things I've learned not to do from them. Every aspect of my life has been because of who my parents are, I'm a proud catholic because of my parents, I follow Dominican culture and traditions because of them, I grew up a Democrat because of them, and I have a great heart thanks to them. I'm in college to make them proud, because they never had the opportunity to have a proper education. They have shown me to care for others, yet to protect myself to avoid disappointment, they have pushed me to do the best I can education-wise and to brush myself off when I fall. Who I am today, is thanks to them. Whether it's been for the good or the bad, I've learned what habits to have and which ones to drop, because of what I've seen them accomplish.

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how the music has shape today:

well music has shape me in many ways. I say this because ever since I started to listen to music I started to become more relaxed and more aware of myself. Having to listen to music has made me feel more comfortable. I listen to music to disconnect myself from the world and all the stress that has me worried. Music has made me become more focus of myself and to not worried about things that can make me anxious or stress because I am someone who get's stressed about everything. when I am outside I try to put my EarPods on and listen to music because I don't got time to listen to people fighting or stuff like that. So everywhere I go I always take my AirPods and listen to music I feel it's a good for me because music calms you down and you feel more relax. I found my place listening to music and I still today play the music because without music life is boring. Music makes you dance and makes you sing to me music is the best thing in life.

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School has shaped my identity and social interactions. It affected my entire sense of who I am, as well as how I act, behave, and connect with others on a daily basis. My school years haven't been great; they've had a terrible impact on me. My perspective on life in general, trust issues, and introversion have all been impacted by school. Even though I was in a bad situation, it helped me grow as a person. I learned to love who I am and to have faith in myself regardless of what other people think. It has helped me understand what is inappropriate and why some behaviors shouldn't become normalized. No matter how negatively it had affected me I am grateful because I am content with the person I have become.

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How my family influenced my identity and clothing choices.

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How my family influenced my identity and clothing choices.

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My family and values have had a big impact on my fashion sense. my  hijab is a cultural norm and value that my family has passed down to me. Modesty is valued in my household. My fashion choices are influenced by my personal, cultural, religious, and beliefs, which help me choose what I find meaningful. I'm encouraged to wear the hijab by my family because it's a symbol of my culture and religion.

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My family has been a big influence in my life since they're the one who taught me most of the things I know today. My parents have always taught me that there is good and bad in this world and that unexpected things happen. But, they've also given me the liberty to experience things on my own, either bad or good they're always there to give me advice. They also influenced all my beliefs and the way I look at life, for example having values and respecting others opinions or beliefs. My family taught me to be grateful and value the people and the things in my life because we all work hard to be here and achieve the things we have.

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The people around me have significantly influenced who I am today, impacting my values, beliefs, and outlook on life in ways I often realize only in retrospect. My family laid the groundwork for my early worldview, embedding essential values and shaping my sense of self. My friends and family have broadened my perspective, encouraging me to think critically and appreciate diverse viewpoints. Their unique experiences and insights have deepened my understanding of certain things. Through our interactions, whether through shared experiences they have been pivotal in my personal development, guiding me toward the person I’ve become now

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The way my parents have shaped me is by teaching me how to do things by myself like homework and getting to places by myself, overall they helped me become independent in somethings

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In one paragraph, you will consider which institutions shaped who you are. More specifically, you'll choose one institution and examine its influence on you--and question whether you have any role in shaping that institution in turn. For example, how might religion shape your morals, beliefs, sexuality, or approach to relationships and dating?

You are not limited to religion--you can focus on schools, media, or any other institution you're interested in.

And remember, you only need to focus on one institution in your response! For example, if you select religion as an institution and want to explore its impact on shaping your value system, then just focus on religion! You can connect religion to other institutions if you want, but you don't have to!

Some examples of institutions you can consider in terms of how they shaped you as an individual and how you as an individual shape them are:

the family

media

religion

government

capitalism

racism

gender

sexual orientation