This may sound weird or a little nerdy, but for some reason I have always been engrossed by the meanings behind names. I just think it's interesting to think about why a person was named what they were and whether they find identity in their name's meaning. Names raise questions such as 'Did their parents want their child to grow into their name or did it just happen to be a family name?'
I was named Kristina after my great-grandmother on my mother's side. My mom had a special connection with her grandma as a child and wanted to honor her memory. My parents also really liked the meaning of my name and hoped that it was name that would fit my personality well. Kristina in most languages means "Christian" or "Follower of Christ." I believe that this meaning accurately represents me. I have grown up in a Christina household and try to live my life in a way that God would be proud of. I place a large amount of my identity on my religion because it is something that I find to be very important. Funny thing actually, I'm writing this blog post so late because I chose to go to youth group at my church tonight instead of doing homework. That may not have been the wisest decision, but I enjoyed the fellowship at youth and learning about God.
The idea of being an individual within a larger group of individuals is an interesting concept. Individuals often alter how they behave to fit into the larger group. You could potentially have a larger group filled with individuals who are acting nothing like they would if they were acting as an individual if they were alone. So are you truly acting as yourself when you are in a group or when you are an individual? If you act differently in different groups, then which group most accurately represents you? That's kind of mind blowing to think about.
If you asked different people to describe me, they would probably tell you different things. My close friends would probably describe me as someone who likes to have a good time and joke around a bit. If you asked an acquaintance of mine though, they might describe me as being more shy and reserved. When I am in a larger group with my friends, I feel more comfortable to open up and be more outgoing. It's easy to be around people who know you and have been with you through many life experiences. Friendships have a rhythm to them and offer security. When I am in a group setting with people I don't know as well, I tend to hold back and not show my full personality because I have a fear being judged. I won't voice my opinions or offer suggestions when surrounded by people who aren't close friends of mine. Eventually though, once I get to know the people better, I become my normal and crazy self.
Another interesting concept to think about is that of being an individual person within the larger group classification of 'teenager'. I could be a perfectly well-behaved person but one may view me as rebellious simply because of the fact that I am a teenager who spends time with other teenagers. When individuals are a part of a larger whole stereotypes come into play. I believe that this leads to the problem of lost self-identity for the individual and also creates an unhealthy group mentality. If people classify a group of teenagers as being rowdy and rebellious, then the individual teenager will use "I'm just teenagers" as an excuse for his or her rebelliousness.
AWESOME post- I loved reading it!
ReplyDeleteI really like the problem you proposed on whether or not the individual should be identified by how they act when they are alone or when they are with other people. I have a similar type of personality to yours; I apparently tend to seem more reserved to people who don't know me. However, I do not identify with this persona of me. I believe that the individual is defined by all personas regardless of the audience. My personality, as a whole, is a combination of me alone, me around my family, me around adults, me around my friends and so on. The way you act around different audiences says something in itself: if you are more reserved and polite around adults, it shows how our culture has influenced you to respect adults and to be polite in formal situations. More or less the same thing applies when meeting new people or being with new people. I don't believe the personality you display when you are on your guard is really your personality, but the fact that you are conscious of how you display yourself to different types of people reveals part of your personality. One's truest personality arises in how they act when they are comfortable, whether this is alone or with close family or friends.
ReplyDeleteStuart. I loved reading the meaning behind your name! I didn't know that's what it meant, but it all makes sense now. I liked how "Kristina" was a family name along with meaning "Christian". Based on your family and their background, the name totally fits. I liked how you analyzed what a name means to an individual and how it impacts his or her behavior. I also enjoyed reading your interpretations of people's opinions towards teenagers. I think it would've been interesting if you went into a little more details of what a name means to an individual. You mentioned how Kristina relates to your church going and Jesus loving self, but how could other people's relate? For example, how would nicknames represent a person and impact them? Overall, great blog post!!
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