Identity Project

Through my interviews and conversation with Zac and Natalie, as well as Tom and Tracy, I gained valuable information about how their identity as changed and become the people they are today. 

Because of Tom’s job, he has become more selfless and compassionate, a story was shared where he a A young man was trapped in the machine as it tumbler over a steep embankment. Tom held this mans head in his head as he passed away, because of this event he has become someone who values their life everyday and doesn’t take anything for granted. 

His family has also been affected and changed because of his job. They must communicate more and may have to deal with off days, but their kids watch their dad everyday and love how much he serves their community which has lead to them pursuing a career like this in their future. 

Zac as a child and teen wasn’t aware of such hazards in his life, but seeing how people’s lives are changed through recklessness has changed him as a person and made him more cautious of everyday things like driving as well as eating healthy and staying in shape. 

Their family also deals with the issue of communication and having to work through those challenges but they always get through them because of their selflessness personalities. As much as Zac has been changed, I noticed that Natalie as well went through some identity changed of being more aware of others around her and understanding what those sirens mean as they pass by you on the street. They both put people above themselves which they didn’t necessarily do before hand. 

Overall, this job isn’t just a career that you go to and come home from unaffected. Traumatic things happen to them daily that affects their relationships and their outlook on life. They feel more connected to their community and have a sense of fulfilling a purpose. This idea of fulfilling a purpose relates to many of the books we read in class. For example in the kite Runner, Amir went back to Afghanistan fulfilling his purpose of adopting Hassan’s son and giving back to his hometown through money and a hospital. 

Through these examples we can gain the idea that identity also contains fulfilling our purpose in life.