11. My Roots and Influences

I have this cool paper in my American Heritage class that I'm starting to write. I'm not excited that it has to be at least nine pages, but I'm way into what I'm learning about myself as I'm writing it.

The paper is the result of an interview of my Mom and Grandma. Questions involved are about their view on a changing America over their years. It's been so neat to hear there perspectives. As I have I've learned two things. First, that I am really a product of my heritage--I see my ideals in my mother and grandmother. Second, that I'm also a product of my environment--the rest of my ideals are filled in by my surroundings.

A good example of the influence of my heritage is my view of work. My grandma was a child of the depression, so right out of high school she got a job as a grocer and worked right through marriage, army life with grandpa and five kids. My mother too see's the nobility of working for what you have and completely disagrees with the current view of government as the one to go to for a hand-me-out.

A good example of my environment is technology. My grandma could not hate technology more and is very stubborn to not get involved with ipods, computers and the like. I think my mom realizes that technology is necessary to get by, but is reluctant to fully embrace it. I'm a big fan of growing up in a time where information is easily accessible and tasks are more easily and efficiently completed. I tend to embrace technology with little reluctance or uneasiness unlike my heritage.

I'm clearly a product of the two; my heritage and my surroundings. It's been cool seeing some of my roots and influences as I've been writing this paper.