JOE Youth is getting ready to start a new series entitled "Identity". In this series we will explore how we determine our identity and those with whom we will associate. This will also be focused on how we live out our faith as Christians.
So here are some questions for us to consider before we begin the series. I'm interested to hear what you think - let me know if you are a teen or an adult.
- How did you decide who your friends were going to be? Was it a struggle to find your identity with this group? Were you accepted right off the bat or did it take time for the group to accept you?
- Do you have more than one group of friends that you hang out? Do you switch from group to group? Do you consider yourself to have 'different personalities' when you hang out with different people?
- Do you have friends that feel left out? Do you ever feel left out? Do you have trouble fitting in with any particular group?
- What do you think is the hardest part about finding your identity? What do you think was the easiest?
- I don't really remember how I made my friends, it wasn't hard for my to find my identity after a while because I stopped caring what people thought about me and started being myself, I've never been accepted right away and I think I'm still not accepted by some, but it doesn't bug me.
ReplyDelete- I only have one group that I hang out with (or so i think?) if I do have more than one there blended together somewhat, I don't have different personalities, I'm either shy if I'm around people I don't know or my normal crazy self if I'm comfortable around the people, but I wouldn't call that different personalities.
- I'm not sure if I have friends that feel out because I'm usually the one that feel left out, I feel left out sometimes, but not too much I guess, I always have trouble fitting in, im just an odd person :) but usually I work out my way in eventually.
- I think the hardest part about finding your identity is worrying about what other people might think of you. I had trouble with that up until about 8th grade, it's not an easy thing, especially when you have low self esteem. I never picked the right friends and was always being ridiculed or made fun of, but I stopped caring and i think when someone can ignore stupid comments like, "your fat", or "your a nerd" then you can find yourself and find your true friends. I think the easiest part i think is being yourself, but you have to be able to ignore those stupid comments first.
Just my thoughts :)
I'm a teen, let's clarify that first. :)
ReplyDelete- Well, originally, my friends were just kids that were in my class throughout my years of elementary school. I remained friends with them through junior high, until I had classes with new people in junior high and highschool, and began hanging out with them. I was accepted pretty easily into all groups.
- In highschool, I hung out with a large variety of groups, ranging from the "emo kids" to the more popular crowds. My personality varied slightly between the groups I was with.
- If I think a friend is being left out, I try to include them. I have been left out of things before, and its not fun at all. I have trouble fitting in with groups that are very shallow and gossip a lot.
- I'm still struggling to find my identity, so I can't fully answer this question. I see aspects of other people that I admire, as well as personality traits that the Bible mentions are important, and try to reflect these. But also, I try to see who I truly am on the inside, and try to show the best aspects of that, and improve upon the traits that I view as still needing help.
Hope that answers your questions! :)