Caday_MODULE 1 PAPER

Julianne Carmel I. Caday GED 101-A2 September 13, 2021 GED 101 MODULE 1 PAPER

\"A garden\" is what I chose to reflect the self best. A garden tells the story of its beauty yet relays the hardships and endeavors faced by the self. By beauty, I do not mean the exquisite physique or the attractive smile, but the growth that I have experienced and will continue to experience. However, one cannot merely achieve this garden just by standing - it takes dedication, love, and, unfortunately, tears. In my drawing, I have utilized various symbols to provide a visual description of my journey. The Chrysanthemums, for example, carry a myriad of meanings that is why I choose to include them in my drawing. In Asian countries, it is a flower of friendship that reflects joy and optimism. I believe that my friends have been the most influential to my self; not only have I shared with them my fondest memories, but I have also shared the pain and hardships. I also chose Chrysanthemums to represent my family, who have been my source of joy and support ever since I can remember. The yellow and delicate flowers signify the people who have helped me in this arduous journey of life. They have become essential characters in my story. Thus I created a transition from petals to pages. Without a doubt, they gave me the growth I need - they became my inspiration to become better, to change, which is why I added butterflies to my illustration. Metamorphosis, the biological process of change, applies not only to butterflies but also to us humans. We change physically and psychologically as well - and our experiences have shaped us to do so. Butterflies are a perfect example of this concept as they undergo various changes before becoming the visually appealing creature we are familiar with. These changes that I have attained are what created the \"I.\" Throughout my journey, I have learned thoroughly from my mistakes. I have taken pride in my accomplishments - these have influenced me to develop myself, to push myself towards what I believe is an ideal person. Of course, throughout this course of life, there is no denying that I have lost some aspect of myself in pursuit of a better self, but who doesn't? Life is about uncertainty, and changes are adamant, our self included, but are we still \"us\" even if we change everything about ourselves? One concept that I have pondered upon while creating this illustration is the Ship of Theseus. It is a paradox that questions if changing aspects of a specific object remain the same object. Similar to the paradox, we modify aspects of ourselves as part of our individual growth and development. Still, we can maintain our \"self\" is a question that we alone must answer. In my perception, the self is a product of the experiences that we have collected throughout the years. Changes that I have gone through are mere puzzle pieces of it. Thus, in this assignment, I chose to take on an empirical standpoint wherein my senses and actions have influenced who I am today. The Ship of Theseus is indeed a complicated experiment, but we must remember that the self is ever-changing, yet it is still the self.

Our experiences in life contribute to the development of the self, and as an 18-year-old student, I believe that I have not fully defined my self and perhaps I may never completely do so. The journey of life is still far from its end, and I have a lot to explore about myself, so I must be able to welcome change and accept it as an aspect of myself. The butterflies, overall, signify the changes that I underwent. However, the changes that truly impacted me until today are the psychological and sociological aspects concerning my behavior and those around me. For context, I am a Filipino student living abroad, and although a Filipino community surrounds me, I am bound to follow the rules and laws set by an Arab country. I noticed how I was utterly reserved as a child, and in my educational institution, I maintained my passiveness and followed the lead of others. This is why exploring the social sciences, particularly sociology and psychology, is an intriguing moment for me. As I reach the end of my childhood years, I have come to understand the nature of my environment and, thus, easily connect with my peers. However, despite growing in a quiet and lightly restricting surroundings, my family and friends have encouraged me to make a noise. In the sea of silent onlookers, I chose to rise above and create my own identity - an identity that separates me from the community. I prefer to participate in a myriad of events to explore my options and remain active. Although I still respect the culture of my host country, I do my best to make myself confident and be vocal with my stance - I am, after all, a Filipino in the land of the foreign. It is within our nature to stand tall, stand up against the silence, and shine bright (sun) despite the hardships. As I reach the end of the first module, I wish to share a thousand enlightening moments, but as a summary, I learned that we could not just define the term \"self\" with what we see in the mirror. According to Socrates, the authentic self is not the physical body but the mind (or psyche). Many aspects and factors have shaped our way of thinking and how we perceive things, including ourselves. Our appearance may be an essential factor to the self, but our appearance does not entirely define who we are compared to our minds. Defining the self solely on one factor is nearly impossible, as I have learned that there are more dimensions to self. In the \"Handbook of Self and Identity\" written by Mark R. Leary and June Price Tagney, we understand our nature to present various identities as we indulge ourselves in different fields. For instance, we may identify ourselves as hard-working and committed employees; however, the same cannot be told when you are with your aloof friends. We choose to present different identities in different situations because we deem it appropriate, based on our experiences. Although we may possess a limitless number of identities, this does not conflict with the self as self is a collection of those identities - they are a part of you. Our behavior and actions do

not restrict us to having one identity, which is why the field of Social Sciences offers more than just psychology. Social Science highlights the importance of studying not only the behavior of one individual but the possible influences such as society and our ancestors. It also explores how our self is a reflection of our economic power and political stance. Social Sciences emphasizes the dimensions of self and how it may influence others. So, we must always strive to comprehend the self. A month into this course, I must understand the self since it may influence those around me. However, as a Filipino youth, I have yet to explore myself and find a clear definition. Reflecting on my illustration, I feel as if there is more to add to the white background. Perhaps as I pursue this course, I can add more butterflies and Chrysanthemums, gain new memories, and, most importantly, grow my garden.