How can we take something as complex as our identity and communicate it simply, effectively, and authentically?
In an increasingly global society, it is often difficult to identify a person based solely on the sound of their name, the color of their skin, or the language that they speak. When I introduce myself, it is difficult not to notice that I am a woman and Mexican. Therefore, stereotypes surround the “type” of person that I am. However, there are undoubtedly other “layers” and intersectionality that cannot be seen. I am American, not born but raised. I am from the South, but don’t have an accent. I am Christian, not based on religion but by faith. I attend a Korean church, but I am not nor speak Korean. My household is Mexican, but we don’t celebrate cultural traditions. I have grown up in a society that wants concrete labels, but how can all of the above be communicated without having to write a novel?
Oftentimes, in real world settings one must present themselves honestly, but attractively such as in first introductions, job interviews, and presentations. A well rounded liberal arts scholar and leader would have the ability to communicate effectively and be able to specify who they are and what they represent. College, and one such as Agnes Scott, provides the opportunity for self-exploration and self-identification. Students go through such experience in order to grow, but in an increasing global and diverse society, it is often difficult to identify one’s self and others without outside influence. There must be a way to convey one’s true self.
Warren Berger, American journalist and author of A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough, defines a beautiful question as “ambitious yet actionable” with the ability to “begin to shift the way we perceive or think about something ⎯ and that might serve as catalyst to bring about change” (8). It is inventive, unpredictable, and innovative. Whoever ask such questions should be curious about the world and ready to take the challenge of gaining knowledge (4). The questions should be passionate and crafted to the benefit of all or most.
I would argue that my question is ambitious, actionable to the individual, and innovative in bringing forward an idea to be reconstructed in one’s mind. My question does not have a definite answer because it all depends on the individual and how they perceive themselves. There is really no possible way to say who you are in a single word or sentence sentence, maybe the most important identity term but not all of it. In this way it is ambitious. Actions can be taken. For example, because the question make me rethink who I am as a person, I may take actions that will either support or oppose my current self. I would be in search of the right words or pictures that make me who I am. I would have to make choices and realize the important items of my life and if I were to not find any, I would be in charge of creating some.
The music rotation, presented by Music Professor Tracey Laird, made me realize the existence of various forms of communication. The musicians in the videos that we saw, Supaman’s Why and The Silk Road Ensemble, expressed themselves through dance and rhythm. In doing so, they brought awareness to what they were passionate about. Supaman’s Why dealt with cultural awareness and The Silk Road ensemble painted a picture of color and texture as the rhythms flowed through the instruments. In Professor Laird’s essay of Music and Leadership, she states that “a musician communicates with an audience, sometimes… without benefit of words. The smaller subtleties of human interaction—timing, comportment, pacing, breathing, and other indicators of personal wherewithal—alter the shape of a given performance in ways difficult to explain with words.” Words in this setting are not all that important since the feeling of musicality exists. Likewise, the art rotation presented by Art History Professor Katherine Smith, offered visual communication in which most was up to interpretation. Our discussion of the vast interpretations of Barbara Kruger’s Untitled (Everything will be okay) involved the central idea that meaning was up to interpretation. Art Historians scrutinize and observe objects for hours and even days noticing and learning something new each time (Smith). They translate what they see into words often helping others (Smith). As such is the process that skilled people are the ones that actually form pictures into words. It is up to the audience to believe in what they want. From these two rotations, my question was not necessarily changed but it just broadened my view of resumes and interviews to other mediums of communication.
The Leadership Studies rotation presented by Professor Heather Scott had the most impact on the wording of my question. Through this presentation, I recognized the importance of authenticity and leadership. From the start, we were presented with questioning current and former leaders and their authenticity within their roles. We concluded that, in order for great leaders to emerge, there must be present growth and self-actualization. That means getting to know one’s self and acting away from the influence of normalized societal standards. On the other hand, we determined that authenticity is a choice and that in certain situations, it might be best to show one’s entire self and in others just a fraction. It is all up to the individual and the outcomes that they see best to preserve. In all, it is important to be identified authentically, but, according to circumstances, not everyone needs to know everything.
Credit: by Lisset Rojo Ramirez
Works Cited
Berger, Warren. A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough
Ideas. New York: Bloomsbury, 2014.
Laird, Tracey. “Essay on Music and Leadership,” LDR 102 Moodle.
Smith, Katherine. “Essay on Art History and Leadership,” LDR 102 Moodle.