One way to think about the style of literary analysis we employ in English II Honors is that we see writing as a form of cultural criticism. It's not about the individual author so much as the cultural environment that produced them and their works. Culture is what we do with nature, the world we create by attaching shared human meanings to . All of us are a product of the intersecting ideological beliefs and social patterns which make up a culture. This doesn't mean we aren't individuals as well, but we share a common space of meaning, in the same way fish share the ocean. Just as fish don't notice the water after a while, so we come to take culture as "normal," the one proper way to be a human. This writing exercise is about becoming aware of the ways culture shapes so we can critically interrogate it.
For this post, you can do one of two things: -Give your own take on how culture has shaped you. Examples are key here. -Respond to someone else's take with a comment and an open-ended question. Either way, you should write a full paragraph demonstrating your ability to critically analyze cultural influences.This is worth ten points.
70 Comments
Alex Sosa
9/9/2014 07:40:35 am
Over the years culture has shaped me to be the person I am today. Although I grew up in a household where I was sheltered , the school environment ultimately changed me. I began to find myself surrounded by musicians, artists, and writers. People who wanted to create novels and express who they were. I started to find myself pulled into the world of art. I learned different dances from all kinds of countries. I played music until my head hurt and learned different ways to express myself. I even began to write stories, not about myself, but about the people around me. I wrote about their experience. I typed about that girl being sold in a different country, how before my friend's parents go to bed they like to gather around and sing songs. Really, the people made me who I am today are the ones surrounding me. The way I act, the things I like, have all been influenced by this artistic culture. I had been molded like clay until I forgot not everyone was like me. Most have been shaped by culture, but not everyone is shaped in the same way.
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Allie LeLand
9/9/2014 10:22:10 am
I completely agree with you. I think that the school environment has really made me who I am today. For nine years, I went to a small private school in Rumson, where everyone wore the same uniform, looked alike, spoke and acted the same way. Growing up, I believed money was the answer to everything, it mattered how big your house was, and who had the highest GPA. I always hated it, but I knew couldn't change the beliefs and the way my school functioned . When I decided where to go to high school, I never thought of RBR being an option. But, when I did choose RBR in the end, my entire grade was in shock and looked at me like I was crazy. I was proud of myself for breaking the norm. I'm now a different person. RBR is such a great environment and is so accepting of everyone no matter their background. I truly do believe Red Bank Regional has culturally shaped me into the person I am today and am very grateful for it. Do you think you would be a totally different person if you went to a different school, or would you find your individuality on your own?
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Mr. Biggs
9/11/2014 07:02:10 am
This is great self-analysis, Allie. I love how you have become open to questioning and even violating norms if you see the potential for better things.
Victoria White
9/9/2014 12:20:55 pm
I can completely relate to what you are saying. Over the past few years, I have come to the realization that I have been shaped into the person I am today due to the musical culture I have been surrounded by. Stemming from when i was an impressionable nine year old, after a presentation of my elementary school's small musical department, I was immediately enticed by the world of music. After submerging myself into this atmosphere and way of life, I began to, and still do, see changes in my everyday life. Music although a universal language, has so many cultural elements and aspects it's unfathomable. The way different cultures put their own spin on things, and the way these 'spins' are recreated by other cultures, results in extreme diversity and originality. Witnessing such diversity and originality in the musical culture has allowed me to grow as a person and allowed me to know that it is okay to try things a little different than the status quo. So, for me it is safe to say that the musical culture has changed my life completely, what type of culture has effected you?
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Kelsey Ballard
9/9/2014 07:48:09 am
I feel that culture has personally shaped me in many ways. The American culture, the one that I was raised with, was that hard work will eventually get you to where you want to be. I was taught from an early age to dream big, but also to help other people achieve their dreams. This has definitely translated into my current being. I try and work as hard as I can to achieve what I want. However, the culture that I find is capturing America today is that we want things to be bigger, better, and we don't want to work for us to get them. We expect that teachers won't give us work and that we can hang back and achieve our dreams. I also find that I know very few people that have a dream or goal. I myself don't yet know what I want to do after college, but I have goals of going to college and being successful. Many people just want to take the easy road and see where that takes them. That is the idea of youth culture today. I feel that I want to avoid that stereotype and work hard to get to where I want to be.
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Kelly Gagliano
9/10/2014 05:25:45 am
I completely agree. Our generation seems to have no ambition or dreams to be something, or make something better. Most of us get things handed to us, making us lazy and unappreciative of the things we have. Sadly, this is the culture we grew up in. So, what would it be like if our generation created goals and dreams and worked harder than ever before to make the world better? We could create wonders with just setting a goal.
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Zoe Kralyevich
9/10/2014 09:27:27 am
I very much agree with you on your opinion about people dreaming bigger, but working less. When we were young, we were always asked the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?". Well, know that we've grown up, it's time to officially answer that question. And as most of us, like myself, don't have an answer yet, we still don't realize the amount of work we will need to do in order to get there. No matter how big or how little, a dream is still a dream and we must work hard to achieve it. But how are we going to do that? Laziness has been at an all-time high, especially in teenagers, so how do we get everyone motivated to achieve their goals?
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Shaye Gilmartin
9/10/2014 12:37:26 pm
I could not agree more with you. People in the American culture set goals and create dreams for themselves, however they think it will come easy to them with no work needed. However, the goals and dreams set could be easily possible to achieve if people strived, and worked hard to accomplish them. But, a laziness comes to us making us think that they do not require much work. Many people do have dreams set early for themselves to achieve when they grow up and become older adults. I do not have any set goals or dreams yet, however I probably will set some soon. One goal I can think of that I could set is going to college and being successful. Which in the American culture it is already taught that you automatically attend college, and you spend your early years preparing yourself for it. But, in other cultures college is not even in the picture and it is bizarre to them that we are expected to go. It is sad that we grow up in a culture where people sit back and expect their goals to be achieved easily, instead of working hard every day to accomplish them. Do the people who do not work hard to get where they want to be need motivation to do it? Where can they get their motivation? Would our world be different if people began to work hard every day to get where they want to be?
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Mr. Biggs
9/11/2014 07:24:35 am
Great thread! I think about this all the time - why has so much of the passion for life, for doing great things and making the world a better place, disappeared? It seems clear that things have gotten so easy that people have become lazy and relatively uninterested in pursuing projects of change or self re-creation. (Note that this is great for big business and the government, whose jobs are easier when people are relatively passive and obedient, as Beatty explains in F451.)
Skylar Simone
10/6/2014 08:03:31 pm
I agree with you on this point. I think many teenagers of this day don't always work as hard as they should and think everything is going to work out for them someday. I was also taught to dream big but I was also taught that if you want to achieve that dream it won't be handed to you, you have to work hard that it. A lot of teenagers don't yet know what they want to do when they grow up in a job perspective, which is okay because its not easy to decide what you want to do with your life at this age. I am lucky that I do know what I want to be when I grow up, in fact I have a plan to achieve my goals and if my plan doesn't work then I have a back up plan. Not everyone has a plan yet which is okay but then should at least have some goals, something to work hard for. Teenagers can't just take the "easy road" and expect them to accomplish all that they want to accomplish. Why do you think teenagers think they can just fly by all of there responsibilities and not work hard to accomplish things like school, work, ect.?
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Victoria Sullivan
9/9/2014 08:36:30 am
Culture has shaped me and my family into who we are today. My family and I are all Irish-Americans. To start, it is a tradition to have big families that spend lots of time together and love one another. My dad is one child out of 11, and my mom is one of 6 children. To carry out this tradition, I am one of 4 kids. I have lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles. We see each other at almost every holiday and throw very large parties to celebrate. Food is another tradition that is carried out in my culture. We always have the usual meat and potatoes, and we never leave out the famous Irish bread! Lastly, music from my Irish background has shaped me into who I am today because I love to play lots of instruments, sing and dance. The way I recognize that my culture has shaped me is that I know when I get older, I will continue to live out these traditions, and carry them out to my family as well.
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Emily Fitzgerald
9/9/2014 12:22:50 pm
I can definitely relate to you. My dad's side of the family is made up of all Italians so like your family, we're very loud and we celebrate whenever there is an occasion to. To add onto that, like your family mine also carries a tradition of always eating the food of our heritage and listening to music. What would your life be like if your family was smaller and you came from multiple heritages, and you weren't just Irish?
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Sierra Lopez
9/9/2014 08:49:48 am
Culture has shaped me in a very odd way. I began to love certain parts, and hate certain parts. For example, I'm half Puerto Rican, and my dad's side of the family is Puerto Rican, and so some of them speak mainly - or only - Spanish. Due to this, I grew up around people that spoke Spanish to me when I couldn't understand a single word. Due to that, I've grown to dislike people automatically thinking I understand Spanish and rapidly speaking it at me. I don't understand it, and I got sick of it after seven years. However, music is also a big part of my family, and also American culture. Since I grew up surrounded by music, my music taste is vast and still increasing, and I need music around me at all times, even if I have to provide it myself. Even now, I have music playing, and very loudly while I sing along to be in my comfort zone and therefore work better. On par with music, literature has also shaped me. For some reason, many people don't seem to find books worth reading, but still praise intelligence. I equate the two, and enjoy reading almost anything (apart from poetry). And so, ever since I was six (and first picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and began reading it during dinner despite my mother telling me to leave her books alone), I have grown a great love of reading, and branching off of that, writing. I spend probably up to three hours a day writing on school days, and even more on weekends, provided that I have the time. Because I've grown up surrounded by certain things, I've been shaped and molded - and continue to be - into the person I am and will later become in life. A person who values music and literature above almost all else, and dislikes being spoken to in Spanish. But who knows, maybe that could all change one day.
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Skylar Simone
9/9/2014 08:50:46 am
Culture has shaped me in the way I am today. In all I feel as though my family has shaped me mainly in who I am today. They are the base of who I am as a person. They have taught me family always comes first. They have taught me wrong from right based of their common sense and their experiences. They taught me to believe in myself and to never give up because hard work will pay off. They teach me to earn what I want, to work for it instead of just having things handed to you. I known to be grateful for what I have to be respectful. One of the biggest thing that has shaped me as a person is to be street smart and always have common sense because with out that you won't get as far. My family is the root to who I am and who I want to become as my own person and will go on to teach my kids then same and so on.
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Emily Bynoe
9/9/2014 09:24:23 am
Culture is a very touchy subject. You have too be very carful when you talk about it because you never know who believes in what. Living in a small, middle class town has shaped me into who I am today. I was always told that education is the most important thing. I have to get good grades, to get into a good college so I can get a good job and make a lot of money. These are all good things but it is not like that everywhere. Some people might think that going to college is bizarre. They never would have dreamed of it before. That goes to show that I have been brought up to impress everyone I meet and to do well in life or else I am a failure.
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Claire McEvoy
9/9/2014 11:04:34 am
I agree with you a lot Emily, and I can relate to what you are saying. I have been raised in a similar fashion, with my parents drilling into me that I need to get good grades so I get into a good college and make a lot of money when I am an adult. But, as you said, many people from other parts of the world do not have going to college on their mind at all. Americans in particular are raised with the belief that money is the answer to everything in life; but really, this isn't true. Our culture tells us that the amount of money in our bank accounts should precede our health, relationships, and family. Often, this is regarded as one of the problems of the American culture. There are an infinite amount of things that should be put before money, mostly because money is so materialistic, and yet they are not. Do you think that our society could ever break out of this state of mind that we have grown into? For future generations to come, can this problem be fixed, and will money stop being the most important aspect of life?
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Jordan Swartz
9/9/2014 09:24:34 am
Culture has shaped me to become the person I am today. For example, my family is one of the very few Jewish ones in my town of Little Silver. It has made me look at life in a way that I feel is very interesting. We are always debating about different things happening in the world and we all have different viewpoints. So I was more or less shaped by my family to be open to other people and try to view the world as they see it. To me, it is a very powerful thing to be taught as a kid. Another tradition our family has is to fast during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. In our family we start to fast after our Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Even though it is only for a day, it is a grueling task. I plan to continue these traditions on to the next generation like my parents did so to me.
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Alma Sanchez
9/9/2014 09:48:39 am
Culture has shaped me in many different ways. I've been influenced by the American culture, but also by my parents' culture, which they have brought over from Mexico. I speak two languages due to my surroundings, and I also celebrate the holidays a bit differently than some other people. While, when I was younger, I did go out trick or treating, I also celebrate Dia de Los Muertos. My family does celebrate thanksgiving, which is influenced from the American culture. I also believe that my family and I are very family oriented, which is to say that we respect and love one another. In Mexico, family is considered to be very important. The children are meant to take care of their parents, as their parents once took care of them. This has rubbed off on to me, and I have a very close and loving family. Education is very important in both cultures, and because of this I always try hard to succeed in my studies. Culture has shaped me in many different ways, which has lead me to become the person I am.
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Kyle Neary
9/9/2014 10:04:16 am
Being raised under the influence of American culture, many people think that success can only be reached by hard work. But what is the definition of success? Originally, I thought that success meant owning a house, having a steady job, and having a family. However, there is much more than that. To other people, success is defined as just being happy with the choices you’ve made in life. That’s how my parents raised me. I come from a family where everyone passed through high school and everyone went to college, so a lot is expected of me. I do exceptionally well in school because of this and my family is very proud of me. However, I do not think that working hard in school is the only possible route to success. I am proud of my culture.
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Bobby Villaluz
9/9/2014 11:44:57 am
I could not understand and agree with you more. High school is quite a tough time for many students because we have to stop and think about what we want to make of these four short years. For the past fifteen years of my life, my teachers, coaches, and other role models drilled the idea into me that you needed high grades for success. As a result, I worked incredibly hard throughout my freshman year, doing my absolute best in academics. However, by the end of my freshman year and now starting my sophomore year, while it is important to be a well-rounded student, I now know that it is also important to focus on the simple stuff. Whether it is taking risks, doing something genuinely interesting, or just going out of our way to make today different, doing well on that next test is not the only road to success. If our culture embraces this idea of multiple paths to success, how could it unlock the potential of those who are not necessarily compatible with our rigid education system?
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Mr. Biggs
9/11/2014 10:22:38 am
How would our culture have to change for multiple paths to success to become possible?
Jake Lane
9/10/2014 08:34:57 am
I completely agree with you. Growing up you are always told to be yourself and do what you believe in. Why is it that when you take a different life path than go to school or get a steady job are you seen as an outcast? Even though you are told to live life how you want to you are still excepted to go to school and be successful. Even though in your opinion to be successful may be just getting by and living how you want to. Just cause you are successful doesn't always mean you are happy. Growing up you are taught being successful is the only way to happiness.
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James Latimer
9/10/2014 11:33:26 am
The point you bring up in your paragraph is a very strong one and one that can be interpreted in many different ways. Success to one person could be completely different from another's definition. This concept is all about what you believe to be success. One person may believe that being affluent and/or a CEO of a business means that you are an accomplished/successful human being. Like your point, I believe that being "successful" is being happy with yourself and your achievements throughout life. Whether is is playing a sport, teaching, owning a restaurant, being an artist; the possibilities for "success" are endless. In my opinion, success is essentially finding your passions and goals and pursuing them all through life. What is your interpretation of success, and how do you think other people interpret such a vague concept?
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Emma Westgate
9/9/2014 11:04:47 am
A society and its individuals are shaped by its culture. I, myself am shaped by today’s culture. America’s culture teaches people to focus on individuality and be self-made. It makes people think about themselves before others. It is not a person’s priority to think of the well-being of a group, but to see how as an individual they can prosper. Yet, I am surrounded by people, specifically my family, who believe in helping others. In my culture I have been taught to help those in need and if in a group to also help others succeed. Surrounded by almost two cultures, I have become someone who goes to achieve things for myself and family. However, I am also someone who will assist others and focus on the group as much as I focus on myself. These two beliefs have sculpted the person I am and will become.
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Emilie Weiner
9/9/2014 11:13:21 am
Culture and its definition are two very vast things; specifically when focusing in on their cause and effect. Personally, culture has shaped me from all sorts of aspects, from my own, familial one, to that of America over all. For instance, I've grown up in a household with parents who exemplify the fact that children's voices matter as much as adults'. America, on the other hand, likes to preach such a fact, but the truth of the matter is that it's not always true. And as parenting often goes, I hold my mother and father's word very true to my heart, as opposed to the idea that being under 18 diminishes one's thoughts and ideas. My French background has also shaped my vocabulary. My Jewish background has effected my outlook on adulthood and family gatherings. Even more so, the American culture has turned me into a girl who values her private space, her individualism, and her voice. The cultures that encompass the definition of who I am are all vast, diverse, and substantial on their own. It's just a matter of how they shape me.
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Debra Tuberion
9/9/2014 11:14:02 am
I believe that the culture I live in has changed me as an individual whether I realized it or not. The people around me affect me and the way I act. I'm so used to doing what is said to be "normal", but is that really what it is? People from different cultures and obviously have different beliefs, so what we find normal might seem insane or crazy to them. Growing up, I was influenced by my family and friends. I went to middle school in my small town. Union Beach, surrounded by kids I knew my whole life. It never mattered how much make up a girl had on or what kind of clothes you wore. That's not what made you "popular". Your friend groups were based strictly off of who you got along with best and who you enjoyed spending time with. There were many different cliques, but it just all depended on your personality or the type of person you are. Also, the school system itself has changed me. It has convinced me that in order to be successful in life, I must get good grades and go to college. Some people from other cultures might find this rather bizarre. Another example of how my culture has changed me is dancing. Since I have been dancing since a very young age, it's normal for me to go to dance five nights a week for many hours. For some people, they might not be used to that. As you can see, the culture you live in can change you as an individual because of all of it's beliefs and acceptions.
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Ellie Farrington
9/10/2014 10:23:24 am
I can relate to you Debra; I also feel the culture around me has shaped who I am as a person. I'm from Avon, which is just a small beach town. The community there is full of people I have known my entire life. Since everyone pretty much knows everyone, I was raised to be very neighborly/friendly. Being in Avon School was very comfortable for me, but also sheltered. I went to school with the same 20 people who were my best friends for nine years. On the contrary to your experience, I felt pressured to be "perfect" in Avon. When I came to RBR, I realized that while grades and hard work are important, so is living life to the fullest. I met so many new people who bring something unique to the table. For me, high school was like stepping into a different culture in a way. It was a complete change from Avon because there is so much going on. The friends I've made have helped me grow as a person and the focus on arts have given me a better appreciation for creativity. Do you think there is a way to be successful, while staying true to yourself/culture and without devoting 100% of your time to academics?
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Griffin Perry
9/9/2014 11:24:54 am
I feel that growing up in my position with my culture around me has shaped me as a person completely. First, there's the culture in America at the time I have grown up. I think a good word for this culture would be "change", or "progress". Over the past fifteen years, America has done so many things that have shown me and taught me so much knowledge. First, new technology like iPads and iPhones have shaped me because I feel now that I can't leave my house without my phone because I rely on it so much. I think that my town is the same way, where most people rely on technology to carry out everyday tasks. You definitely wouldn't find that in other parts of the world. I also believe growing up in a school district that is puts a very heavy accent on the arts gave me a greater appreciation for music and what music can do to people. Furthermore, my family loves to celebrate holidays, and they grew up doing that with their parents, so I feel like it's a tradition to put up a Christmas tree and decorate it, or give out candy during class on Valentines day. I definitely feel that the culture that I grew up has shaped me as a person today and given me something to work towards as I grow up.
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Will Driscoll
9/9/2014 11:28:21 am
They don’t call it “southern charm” for nothing. People in the south really are charming. For the past two and a half years I have had the privilege of living in Chattanooga,Tennessee. This new southern culture changed the level of respect I show for adults. It’s not that I respect them more now, it’s that when I speak to them I use more respectful words and a more respectful tone. Aside from the general stereotypes about the south, like it’s the bible belt, everyone’s a redneck, and the weather is warmer, I had no idea of what to expect. Unfortunately, most of the stereotypes I listed came from watching TV. After being there for about a week, I was amazed at how different the cultures were and how most of the stereotypes are wrong. It is most certainly the bible belt, but there are just as many rednecks in Pennsylvania as there are in Tennessee. Plus, a redneck really isn’t a bad thing. It’s just a different way of saying that someone is from the country versus the city or a suburb. I’ve met a ton of red necks and they are really nice, really fun people. On my first day of school in Tennessee, I was in the hallway when my science teacher over heard me say “yah” to another one of my teachers. I didn’t mean anything by it. He asked a yes or no question and I answered it with a “yes” in the form of a “yah.” So, like any southern gentleman, he wanted to fix my yankees manners, so he tapped me on the shoulder and with his thick southern drawl he told me “Son, here in Tennessee, we use yes Ma’am and yes Sir, nothin else.” After that I always used “yes Ma’am and yes Sir” in school. He wan’t being mean. He just wanted me to understand the southern culture. Even outside of school I noticed that my friends said “yes Ma’am” to their mothers or any other female adult. It was simple stuff like “George, please take out the garbage” and my friend George would get up and almost immediately say “yes Ma’am.” It took me a while to realize why they would be so formal with their parents, but then I realized that it was just part of their culture. They don’t respect their mothers anymore than I respect mine they just show it differently. I can’t say that I’m going to run around the northeast saying yes sir or yes ma’am, but I am going to try to keep a little bit of southern culture with me.
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Mr. Biggs
9/11/2014 09:40:26 am
This is a great little story. Thanks for sharing, it really illuminates the difference that small cultural variations can make.
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Madison Ciccone
9/9/2014 11:38:25 am
Cutlure truly does shape you into who you are. What you are taught and told at a young age really affects you throughout your life. Being raised as a Catholic and going to Catholic school has a significant roll in making me the person I am. Saying prayers before every class, going to Church several times a month, and reading the Bible everyday effects you in ways you might not even know. I was taught that being the best person you can possibly be, caring for others, and making wise decisions is what you are expected to do. Although some people feel that religion is irrelevant to their lives, I know it is an influential part of mine. Your culture leads you to different outlooks on life, decisions, and ways of living. This is why culture is so essential in our lives especially as we are growing up.
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Elysha Robinson
9/9/2014 11:41:19 am
My culture is divided between two nations, the United Kingdom and the United States. I spent my early years in England where you start school at four and started to comprehend the "three R's," reading, writing, and arithmetic. When I came to America years later, I still had my thirst for learning. I would constantly yearn to read more and grasp as much information as I could in a day. As I grew older, that trait never abandoned me. I managed to keep a hold of the same cultures that Britain held, my parents passing on what they grew up with. I drink tea multiple times every day instead of a coffee fix in the morning. If a leg is broken I would have a stiff upper lip and 'keep calm and carry on' without a complaint. It's in the Brit culture to have a cuppa, put a band-aid on, stop complaining, and get on with it. Spending my years here did I not only acquire bits and pieces of American culture, but my parents did too. We celebrate the Fourth of July, go Trick or Treating on Halloween, and have a roast turkey on Thanksgiving. I hope that I have a good combination of both cultures.
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Mikayla Byron
9/9/2014 11:51:26 am
Culture has shaped my behavior and morals that I incorporate into my life today. I believe culture comes from those who teach you how to behave in certain situations. For example, growing up, I was taught a specific set of manners; sitting up straight at the dinner table, chewing with my mouth closed, keeping my elbows off the table, ect. It becomes almost natural to follow those manners and not fall astray from them. When entering school, teachers drill the extensive rules of the classroom into your head, thus as you grow older you will never forget the rules. Both these examples are commonly known concepts in American culture. However, in other cultures, the way one behaves at a dinner table may be different than how I behave at a dinner table. Overall, culture is the foundation of how I function in my life.
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Emily
9/9/2014 12:11:56 pm
Culture has shaped me in many ways. I would probably be a completely different person if I lived in another country. To start, I never show up to school in any kind of clothing that really stuck out from what the other students were wearing. As a unit, we all dress very similarly. Moving on, I was taught at a very young age that I was to go to school and do well, get admitted into a respectable college, only to obtain a substantial job that pays a ton of money. Speaking of money, because I am part of American culture my world revolves around money. It's crazy how much paper can influence you. If you don't have money now a days, you don't have power or respect. American culture is complicated and has influenced me in countless ways.
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Emily Fitzgerald
9/9/2014 12:17:04 pm
Sorry, I forgot my last name in that post.
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Kathleen Murray
9/10/2014 11:04:07 am
I totally agree with you that we all have different standards by which we live by and that might not be the norm for others. You brought up a good point that you were taught to go to school, get into a good college and get a well paying job and I can totally relate to that because that's what I was taught also. And I totally agree with when you said money is important to our culture as well. So, why is that many may not feel normal if they do not follow what is accepted by others?
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Lola Todman
9/9/2014 12:36:26 pm
Though I'm never really aware of it, I've made it through life with American flags tied to my wrists. Almost everything I do is that which my country has told me is correct. Whether it's pushing my academic limits, volunteering personal time, and even resenting communism, I practice habits that will be bring me to what America defines as success.
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Juliet Slattery
9/10/2014 08:27:03 am
Not only do I think that this is a lovely written paragraph, I strongly agree with what Lola has said. When two different cultures are embedded in one person or society, it forms a new and very unique culture. The culture of America today is much different than it was 300 years ago. Now, many people with different backgrounds live in America and different ethnicities are accepted. Our country is often called "The Melting Pot", because of the different nationalities that live here and the acceptance we have in our society. As Lola said, when her mother taught her the Italian morals and values that she knew, and her father showed her how to be humorous, she took both characteristics and made her own culture, that she as an individual can call her own.
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Charlie Weisman
9/9/2014 12:38:04 pm
Culture has shaped me as an individual. When I was born, I didn't have a choice what country I was born to, or what culture I would be brought up with. So from the time my life began, I have been shaped by the culture of the United States. Although I am still capable of thinking as an individual, a lot of things were decided for me already just from the culture I would be immersed in, like the clothes that are socially acceptable to wear, the types of food I eat, the things I would learn in school and what opportunities would be available to me in my life. My culture has had a profound impact on the way I act.
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Kent Hottmann
9/10/2014 05:55:54 am
I agree that the culture of the United States helps shape everyone without them even knowing it or having a choice. Even though people are free to do what they want in the US, they are pressured to do certain things because that is what is accepted in the US culture. This is usually a good thing, because it pressures people to not do things like being a criminal. However, I think that this can also be bad because you are not given a choice if you want to be part of the culture. You have to be part of it and if you act out, then you are considered different in a bad way. Do you think that America's culture is good or bad, and why?
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Kelly Gagliano
9/10/2014 05:21:06 am
Throughout my life, my family culture has shaped me to become the person I am today. Growing up in an Italian-Irish home, with my dad being Italian and my mom being Irish, I was taught lessons that are prevalent in both cultures, such as keeping family important in the Italian culture, and being outspoken in the Irish culture. However, for both cultures, manners was possibly the most important lesson of them all. As far back as I can remember, my parents drilled into me the importance of proper manners, acting like a lady, and respecting your elders. As far as manners go, I was taught everything from saying "please" and "thank you" to which fork goes to what course. Acting like a lady covers everything from sitting up straight to behaving well. Respecting your elders seemed to be the topic that was most important. I was always taught to be courteous and kind to adults. Shake their hand when I first meet them, and never talk back or disrespect an elder, no matter how much you know you are right or how much you want to. I feel as if I would not have learned these things if I had not grown up in the Italian-Irish culture. To this day, my culture and background teaches me lessons of how to behave, what to wear, and what to eat that would not be a part of my life if I grew up any differently. My culture has certainly shaped my entire life.
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Kent Hottmann
9/10/2014 05:45:55 am
Culture has shaped me by helping me know what to do. Your culture tells you what is good and bad, which helps you make decisions. These decisions help make you who you are. A culture gives you beliefs, values, and traditions. Since my family is Catholic, I was raised with Catholic beliefs and values. Even though I don't go to church every week or pray all the time, I still follow Catholic values, such as rules from the Ten Commandments. Other cultures such as American, have helped shape me by teaching me how to act and behave. I follow American manners such as eating and dressing properly. These cultures have helped shape my life, even though I don't think about being a part of them very often.
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Juliet Slattery
9/10/2014 06:04:53 am
Culture in many ways has shaped the person I am and the way I think, live my life, and the morals, values, and ethics I have. The people you are surrounded by and the environment you live in greatly impacts you. Many people who live in higher class societies rely mainly on money and the belief that they are better than anyone who is "below them". They have a very different mind set than someone who lives as a lower class citizen in a lower class society. The way they think and the things they appreciate tend to be much different. This is not to say that people who have a lot of money are not appreciative because many people are, but the environment you are brought up in and your cultural backgrounds usually have a deep impact on you. I believe that experiencing different cultures and backgrounds can only be beneficially. It makes anyone more aware of the world and more accepting of other people. In general, I do believe that your culture and background will shape who you are. Culture is one of the most important things to be aware of in your world and to have in your life.
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Isabella Ramos
9/10/2014 07:24:41 am
Culture greatly shapes people into who they are. I know that for me this is definitely the case. The way i have been raised and the things I have been taught from a young age influence how I am, what I believe in and who I am as a person. I have always been told that education is the most important thing; that getting good grades and being well educated is what gets you the farthest in life. I have always been encouraged to go to college and continue my education. Also, I have always been taught that family comes first and is the most important thing in life. I have an extremely supportive family who has helped shape me into the person I am today. In my opinion the way one is raised and the things one is taught from a young age has a large impact on how they will be as a person later in life.
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Sean Murphy
9/10/2014 07:27:00 am
Culture has definitely helped shape me into the person that I am today. I would definitely not act and think the same as i do now if i wasn't raised in America. For example, most days I wear jeans and a t shirt to school, and if it's nice out, then I'll wear shorts. In some cultures, i would be considered crazy to wear such "weird " clothes. I would be expected to wear an outfit that I would consider weird. American culture has influenced my likes and dislikes in more ways than just fashion. Another example is food. In America, two of the most popular foods are hot dogs and hamburgers. I eat these without thinking anything is wrong, but in other cultures, it is not allowed to eat these foods. In India, many people refrain from eating anything that has now, or could ever be alive. That means no meat, hotdogs, or hamburgers. I would say it is weird that some people don't eat meat, and those people might think I'm weird for eating meat. The many different cultures of the world have assisted in shaping everyone, helping to create many different individuals who still share common interests and traits, such as me and many other Americans.
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Grace Cody
9/10/2014 08:05:03 am
I think that culture is one of the biggest impacts of who we are as individuals today. We would all have totally different opinions, looks, etc. based on where we were born. I was born to a middle class family in the suburbs in the United States. I strive to get good grades, go to college, get a good job, and have a family of my own. My worries include getting to school on time, who I'm going to sit with at lunch, and why my parents are angry with me. Never once does it cross my mind to worry about helping pay for my parents taxes or if I'm even going to survive the day. If I had been born to a low class family in Pakistan my daily life and struggles would be completely different. I would have less rights as a woman, or even as a person, that I do now. I would not be wearing the same clothes that I do here or have the same religion. Culture is one of the biggest factors in who we are as a person.
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Cecilia McCormick
9/10/2014 08:14:20 am
Culture effects everyone in every way. Although our culture is very similar overall, as in the way we dress, act, etc., we do have many differences depending on where we come from. My family has been a huge influence, constantly reminding me to care for others and be kind to all. Religion is always first, going to church every weekend, starting bake sales and clothing drives, trying to get involved as much as possible is what I am taught. I know church has shaped me tremendously, while church isn't even thought of in others' families. School is also a major part of my life. My grades come before friends, which can get quite overwhelming at times, but that's what I was taught. Some people don't consider grades to be important and that's perfectly okay. It's not that anyone's smarter than anyone else, it's just some try harder to achieve in academics while others believe it isn't necessary. We all have different beliefs while incorporating the main American culture. My family is definitely the most prominent influence in my life, shaping me by our individual culture to become who I am today.
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Tierney Baldwin
9/10/2014 08:16:52 am
Whether we realize it or not, our cultures dramatically influence our lives, molding how we live them and determining who we turn out to be. Being raised in America definitely impacts how we grow up and react to our environment. For instance, because we have access to so many resources, we tend not to appreciate them. We come home expecting to find a closet full of clothes and a fridge full of food; we live our lives revolving around the newest technology, spending countless hours on our phones and laptops or watching television. However, in other countries, people do not have access to these items. They struggle to find food to eat and clean water to drink, yet we have no remorse throwing away half of our lunch if we are not hungry because we can always get something later. In addition, our culture greatly pressures us to not only be the best we can be, but unfortunately to be better than those around us, as well. Colleges and employers no longer want impressive; they want exceptionally impressive. We are encouraged to try our hardest in school and take as many honors classes as we can. In conclusion, culture has an intensely overwhelming role in how our personalities and behaviors develop and ultimately leads to who we grow up to be.
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Kristen Wimmer
9/10/2014 01:33:21 pm
I agree with Tierney in that American culture has provided most of us with many resources. Because of naturally having these available since birth, we tend to not appreciate them. I believe that the culture and society of America has taught us to be ungrateful, to always leave us craving more. I've come to notice that as a culture, we tend to be thankful, or even say thank you, for as many things as we should, These characteristics are very contradictory towards many African cultures, for example. They are infinitely grateful for everything they have, even if it is so much less than us. They are taught as human beings that sharing is vital, and other's happiness is just as, if not more important than your own. This tends to differ from what we are taught here in the United States simply because we are part of separate cultures.
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Adrian Hernandez
9/10/2014 08:18:40 am
Culture shapes me and everyone around me. To be part of a culture is to be a member of tradition and lifestyle, with other similar people. We don't really choose which culture we want to be a part of. We live our lives without even noticing we are a part of one, at times. We don't see how unique our lifestyles are until someone tells us it, or we see someone else's. My culture is all around me, and I only notice it half of the time. It is so common in our lives, it is hard to define. Simple things like the clothing we wear or the food we eat is what forms a culture. As kids, we are taught what we should believe, because of culture. It is impossible to be human and live without having culture. Culture is what makes us human. The blending of cultures, creating even more cultures, is what makes human interaction special.
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Jake Lane
9/10/2014 08:23:43 am
Culture has shaped me into the person I am today. Everyday for the year I go to school were everyone has to be in a certain part of the school at a certain time and in a certain seat. I never questioned it because to me that is just life and certain rules that I live by that I have learned from school and at home. Just like you always were clothes when you go out of the house I never thought it was weird I just figured that it was normal while if I grew up in a different part of the world that could be the most bizarre thing ever. I was just shaped into the person I am today because I saw everyone around me dong certain things and just went with it never noticing that it could be considered strange in a different environment or culture.
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Paige Whittle
9/10/2014 09:14:01 am
American culture has shaped every individual into who they are today. Culture is something that everyone has grown up with, so as life goes on this culture becomes the new “normal.” In today’s society, we are taught as teens to keep our grades high to get into the college of our dreams. It is now considered normal for a student in high school to be constantly thinking about good grades in order to enhance their possibilities in life. It has become part of our culture to think about our education in a way that will benefit us and make us happy for the rest of our lives. American culture has also shaped the way everyone dresses. It is normal to wear t-shirts, jeans, skirts, shorts, or dresses of non-outrageous fabrics and patterns. Anything out of this range of clothing doesn't fit in with modern traditions and is viewed by others in the culture as negatively different. Personally, being someone in the American culture, clothing and thinking about the future is a natural instinct and is considered to be normal. This shows that culture often shapes and raises a person from birth to adulthood, naturally changing the way people think, believe, and behave.
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Lauren Kirk
9/10/2014 09:20:17 am
Culture plays a huge part in everyday life. It comes into play when making decisions, choosing friends, or even meeting someone for the first time. Your cultural beliefs and values shape the person that you become. Culture is based on my family and friends’ beliefs and background. As an American, I was told from a young age that it is important to follow the directions of authority figures or else there will be consequences. We are taught to treat people with respect; however, we are also told to avoid certain people if they are not ‘socially acceptable’. I think it is impossible to go through life without prejudicing different cultures because they don’t share your views. To continue, I was taught to strive for good grades in school, because apparently that will earn you a spot at a university with a well-paying job. I was also taught that money is important; it’s the key to success. America is known as the melting pot for all of the different ethnic groups that live here; however, the same basic set of beliefs as Americans has been drilled into our brains from the moment we were born.
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Kevin Laughlin
9/10/2014 09:54:29 am
Your culture really defines who you are as an individual, without you even recognizing it. Growing up, I always enjoyed playing sports and playing with friends. One sport that I played from a young age, was football, for Red Bank, which includes participants from Red Bank, Little Silver and Shrewsbury. Living in Shrewsbury, there is not a wide diversity of people, so I had not interacted with many different kinds of people. However, when I began playing football, I was introduced to many different kinds of people from both Red Bank and Little Silver. Having played football for many years, and becoming close with different types of people, I respect all sorts of people. This really helped me transition to RBR because at RBR there are many different people, and I was able to connect with many people and feel more comfortable at a bigger school. Culturally, I have grown up being friends with and respected all kinds of different people. I would be a totally different person if I didn't respect and accept all different people.
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Will Grant
9/10/2014 11:01:09 am
Your culture defines who you are as a person. Some people notice this; however, others like myself do not notice it at first. I live in Little Silver so there was not a huge amount of diversity going to school for the first eight years. However, when I walked into RBR on the first day of school I could see that it was different. There were lots of people and the people had all different ethnic backgrounds. RBR is really like a melting pot. The students come from all different backgrounds. It really threw me for a loop at first. But once I started to get to know everybody, I found out that it was easy to get to know them and it helped me transition to high school in a very positive way. RBR really represents America today. They are both melting pots. In the end, your culture defines who you are as a person, but getting to know people from other cultures is really what America is all about.
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Kathleen Murray
9/10/2014 11:06:41 am
To me, culture has shaped me into who I am today though my morals and values. I grew up in a family where we went to school, did the homework, played sports and went to bed. That was my day and life. I never questioned it or argued about it. But I learned early that school was hard and it was tough to get good grades. My mom used to tell stories about how she got some poor grades in middle school and especially high school in her math classes and language classes. At that point I realized that if my mom made mistakes in her early life and she turned out fine, then I’ll be fine if I mess up. And I was right, my parents did except the fact that I messed up or that I played bad in a game. They understood because they made mistakes in their life along the way as well. I think that plays a role in my life and family today because we all understand each other and we all have our strengths and weaknesses. For example I have always struggled with math my whole life but I’ve always be good at history. I've learned to value mistakes and learn from them not just pretend they never happened. Not only may this be relatable to my family but to many others in the American culture today.
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Makoto Brown
9/10/2014 11:31:55 am
Certainly, culture shapes people in ways noticeable and not, as it has with me and every other human on this planet. In my case, when I speak of how culture has shaped me, while I do speak of American culture—of course in this case meaning U.S. culture—it is unlikely that I am talking of how most people actually view American culture. In fact, that U.S. culture, as perceived often by those within it, is something I do not personally feel the influence of so greatly, outside of perhaps the ever-present notion of “social norms” (and even then), mostly because of how I was raised and a number of events throughout my childhood.
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Connor McLoone
9/10/2014 11:46:52 am
Its funny how big of an effect culture has on our lives and yet, nobody really seems to notice because it is just the way things are.For example, our hair style is affected by culture. Most girls have longer hair while most boys have shorter hair. I have not really noticed how much culture has shaped me until recently. I dress very similarly to all my friends, I have a similar hair style, we play the same games and all play sports. I lobe basketball which is a part of the American culture along with other countries. However if I lived in Russia odds are that I would not have played or watched basketball much at all. Even the way I talk and how I act, has all been molded by the culture I live in. Not everyone is alike in a culture but more often then not the way they act has something to do with their culture. Everything i do has something to do with the way I was raised and what happens around me and it is a very similar situations for most cultures.
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Dannielle Wolf
9/10/2014 11:51:34 am
Culture is something that I can never fully wrap my head around. There are hundreds of cultures around the world that blend to form other cultures, other ways of life that I may never fully understand. Of course, my way of life will seem off-putting to those of other cultures. However, in America, the "melting pot" of the world, cultures are changing and mixing everyday. There are cultures within cultures, and cultures that only some people recognize. As a vocal major, I sing songs that come from all around the world, in languages like Italian, French, German, Haitian, Japanese, Spanish, and old, dead languages like Latin and a certain African tribe's language. Whenever we perform these songs we are always given a little bit of translation so we can put emotion into the song, and each time I learn something new about culture. Our choir performed in a church on Martin Luther King's day, and I learned so much about African American history and culture. Every day I'm surrounded by artists and writers and musicians and actors and dancers because of the VPA program and it's brought me to places like Carnegie Hall. All of these people and experiences have taught me about the worldwide culture that is art, something I get to take part in daily. In the artistic community, people are respected and loved no matter who they are as long as they did the same to everyone else. The artistic community has taught me to not judge people and to express myself, because I know I'll always have other artists who will support
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Elijah Nishiura
9/10/2014 11:59:05 am
Your culture is simply what you come from and the environment you grow up in. It can be simple things like in my family you have a glass of milk with dinner. It can also be bigger things like your family history, for instance in my family we are also very strict about eating dinner together. My grandma had a lot of family problems as a child, so she is very strict about coming together at the end of a day for a meal. It is simply something you can't do without. Your culture can also impact what you pass down to your children. In the future my children will probably eat all together at a table every evening. That is what I think culture is.
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Abigail Joyce
9/10/2014 12:28:15 pm
In my opinion, culture is the general basis of individuality and significance in a certain society. Take for instance, Muslims. In Muslim society, the women's bodies are viewed as something that should be kept private and modest, only to be seen by a husband. The women are very submissive in this society, some to a point of which they may not leave the house with out their husbands presence. This is their societies norm. If we were to see an American woman in a hijab not allowed to leave the house until her husband left with her, we would be appalled. If an American woman only showed her eyes and nothing else, we would question her actions. Why? Because it is not our culture. These women grew up on these customs. This is their way of living and living comfortably. We live a lot more open in our society. We choose to be less conservative and more individual. We are a culture based on freedom, where they are a culture based on following their commands. Culture is essential your social norms. Everyones is different. We can either learn to embrace each others cultures or live a life of ignorance.
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Abigail Joyce
9/10/2014 12:36:03 pm
Culture has shaped me personally, because I have grown up in a generally accepting society and family. Living in a home where I was taught to embrace my talents and pursue what I want to do, rather than being forced into something I dislike has really opened my mind and the possibilities for my future. There are people who's parents shove the idea of becoming a surgeon or lawyer or business women down their childrens throats, when the case may be that their passion is art. Those kids never get to pursue what they truly love, and those are the kids that most times end up the most unhappy. In the culture I have grownup with I was encouraged to follow my dreams, and in the end I transferred school due to it and now major in Drama because it was something that I loved and wanted to do. Culture shapes the way you think and the way you act. My culture gave me an open mind and an ambition to be who I want to be, and for that I am grateful.
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Shannon O'Donnell
9/10/2014 12:38:58 pm
We’re born as these perfectly formed little beings, our brains ready to be cultivated. Culture certainly cultivated me into the highly imperfect teenager composing this highly imperfect paragraph. Geographically, I grew up down the block from an ocean, yet with easy access to New York City. So I came to both appreciate nature and treasure the sophistication of a great city. Technologically, I grew up with computers, microwaves, TV’s and iPhones. So I’ve come to expect information instantly, food instantly, entertainment instantly, and communication instantly. I often find myself standing on line in Starbucks, with my iPhone,, deliberately distracting myself from the fact that they can’t get me my vanilla bean Frappuccino with chocolate chips instantly. Artistically, I grew up in a house with one piano, two painting easels, three guitars and about a thousand novels. Instead of watching the Teletubbies at age give, I was given piano lessons. Instead of Blues Clues, I got guitar lessons on bluesy classics. I didn’t take to the easels, but you couldn’t keep me away from the books. There was no Fifty Shades of Gray on the shelves, but I gave my dad about fifty shades of gray hair when, over the years, I asked for a new piano, two lefty guitars, voice lessons and a thousand more (newer) books from Amazon. So now—surprise, surprise—I’m registered in a visual and performing arts program and I’m captivated by the fact that I’ll be performing at the Grand Old Opry in Nashville next month. I think it’s safe to say that my personal culture had a little something to do with who I am today. In conclusion, our lives are individualized Culture Clubs that Boy George couldn’t have dreamt up on his best heroin high. We’re born ready to be cultivated. Then our culture shapes us and shakes us and helps us decide how we will be captivated. I’ve enjoyed reading about your cultures; welcome to mine.
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Mr. Boggs
9/25/2014 04:54:22 am
This is really, really wonderful, Shannon! Both the writing and the degree of insight demonstrated in your self-analysis are impressive.
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brenna bonner
9/10/2014 12:42:25 pm
someone's culture is where they are from and where they come from. an individual's family history is where they originated from and where they come from. people today look at others and sometimes can distinctly see and point out someones culture and there are other people where you cant decide their culture until you go home with them and see their family and traditions. the reason why u cant notice people's culture is because everyone today looks and dresses the same.
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Mr. Biggs
9/11/2014 09:43:09 am
Ahhh, I wish you'd said more about that last part. Does that mean their culture isn't important anymore, if it's covered and concealed under another culture's dominant dress? Or is it a melting pot kind of thing? Should people "assimilate" to new cultures, meaning try to fit in, or should they instead try to preserve their cultural roots?
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Kristen Wimmer
9/10/2014 01:21:27 pm
My culture shaped me into a mold that everyone else could fit in. When I was younger, my culture taught me to be the same as everyone else, yet I was naive and I did not realize it was doing so. A common theme addressed by many other posts is the effect(s) of growing up in small town, one-race, one-social class suburbia. We were taught to be the same. We were taught to play sports, and be good at them. We had to be pretty, but only the straight long hair/skinny kind of pretty. You had to wear the same brands as everyone else. You had to be smart, but not too smart. You had to be funny, but not really funny, or strange. My culture taught me that money is crucial, yet hard work is not. For many years I accepted these standards as they were laid upon me, not even aware of it happening. Perhaps it was the friends and people I surrounded myself with or maybe it was just that I was young and lacked any wisdom. However I've come to notice that almost immediately as I started to go to RBR, that I grew cognizant of the way my culture had shaped my personality, and I felt hatred for it. It only took my freshman year for me to shed all the beliefs and values that my culture had bestowed onto me. This high school has become a new culture for me. It is one of variety, individuality, and acceptance. The new culture i have grown into has carved me into the person I want to be.
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Jack McNally
9/10/2014 01:39:05 pm
Growing up in America has affected me in many ways. The American culture is very unique, it supports individualism, but at the same time, condemns too much of it. We are taught that there is a balance between individualism and being part of a community, and that both are essential to life and happiness. In our school, we are taught to think independently at some times, but others times, in a group. Our culture values working together because we known that we can’t survive without cooperation among people. Also, the American culture supports competition. We honor individuals who succeed and who work hard. This aspect of our culture has made me work harder in school, in order to achieve higher grades. My family’s culture has had its affect on me as well. My mother’s side of my family is Polish, and I’ve been introduced to many Polish foods, as well as other foods from Europe that are not as common in America. Also, my parents spent a decade living in China, and that is where I was born. We eat lots of Chinese foods and not the kinds of food you would find at a Chinese restaurant, but more meals that you would really only discover when living in China. I am thankful for culture, because it has introduced me to many new things and has created a lot of great experiences in my life.
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Mr. Biggs
9/25/2014 04:55:12 am
Excellent post, and that's really cool about your family's enduring use of traditional chinese foods.
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Edith Torres
10/14/2014 11:12:29 am
Culture, okay well we've been given the definition of that so i guess whats more important is what you get from this definition. I've been swimming in this pool of culture for quiet a long time wondering where it'll get me. I have dreams and i have goals i never stop running, in search of these. Sometimes i communicate and speak with others but sometimes i rather not walk down that path. At school, for example, nine out of ten people will say they never heard me speak. But since at least one of them has heard me doesn't that mean i speak. At home it's a different story once my hours at a desk are up i can't seem to hold my ideas bottled up for long. i have an almost completely different personality, and i like it that way i wouldn't trade it for the world. There are some people who are told how they should end up when they are older and they follow by that. On the other side, some pave the way for there own path without having to utter a single word. Yet are they any different from the other fish that swim in the water wondering what water is? Not really, we all have culture it effects us all even if we don't want to admit it or let it show in any way. The only way we can live with ourselves is if we embrace life and the way we let culture work in our everyday lives.
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