Self-Identity for Youth

The youth can dream for the world but the motivation comes from within. Self-identity is the flame of youth in growing up; the driving force of passion. It can only be achieved through themselves - through strong decision making and a healthy state of mind. It is not just the connection between the brain and its actions, but it is rather a concept of sentience - an assessment of one's self. When one finds out who they are and believe in oneself, then they will finally transcend into adulthood.

Your own decision making is a fundamental factor of finding out who you really are. Generally, any negative decision making 'techniques' will culminate in an inability to think properly. So what transpires when the youth is blasé in their choices? Well, there are two routes they can follow. Firstly, they can keep conforming have no say in what they do and be a puppet of their master. They will live life with low self-esteem and find it overwhelming to locate an inner sense of creativity. This is commonly observed in the nature of how tweens accommodate to media influence. They tend to dress, act and speak as they see in broadcast media. They feign coolness by flaunting expensive gadgets and dressing in trendy adult clothes in order to belong in our increasingly vain society. They express themselves through following the words, the styles and the trends. But is it really our contention to be raising our children to be so image conscious and generic? The second route the youth could take is the road of delinquency. They would endeavor to do anything they could to be seen, and as a result feel the sense of belonging. They could have a penchant for danger or simply be disrespectful and rebellious. Even if they are not being true to themselves, it is their only way to feel accepted. The film 'Rebel Without a Cause' is a clear example of how youths can behave irrationally and inherently. Although it seems that the characters are taking on a state of individualism, it is apparent that this recklessness is how they identify themselves. This is the direct effect of decision making influenced by the surroundings, and in this scenario, the parents and the school. Both of these routes in negative decision making will ultimately lead to the individual not being their true selves, but trying to be what society wants them to be.

A healthy state of mind is when you have the ability to think clearly and focus on your goals and ambitions. It is how self-identity can be accomplished and presented to the world. The qualities of this matter include positive thinking and resiliency. What youths sometimes tend to do is rush headstrong into situations that when they reminisce upon, realise they tackled it too swiftly. They believe that they need to be involved in everything that occurs in the world, but the truth of the matter is, the world travels too fast for them. Youths should be able to slow things down and pause. Relax. Think about life and use the mind that was given to them at birth. For example, on a halcyon summer, the youth should enjoy the world and then take into perspective what they have learnt and what has happened. They should instigate within themselves rather that just let the world elapse before their eyes. Because if the youth don't appreciate the world from a young age, they may grow up contemptuous and ignorant. "Catcher in the Rye" is a peculiar example of this issue because it deals with a teenager viewing the world from a different standpoint. Sure, this outlook may be abnormal to most people, but what Caulfield is doing, is taking the time to think about everything and everyone. I know most of you don't agree with me entirely here, but one common statement is that he is thinking. Even though in the end it is ironic that he has a mental condition, but maybe this mental condition is the accelerator towards a healthy state of mind. He isn't sitting on the computer all day or lying on the couch, but he takes the time to oversee the world, and that's what youths should do. By doing this thinking, they are taking a strong step towards self-identity.

Self-identity is a part of youth that is revolutionary and legendary. The answer to the question 'Who am I' can be answered if the youth can really look into themselves and think as an individual. There is no need to be anybody you're not. You are you and you cannot change who you are. The youths can glamorize, accessorize, conform and belong all they want but at the end of the day, they are still the same person they are when they woke up. So I guess self-identity means literally means finding out who you are and where your place is in the world. It is the concept dictating youth behavior for the future.