What Makes Me “Me”

My culture comes from where I am from and where I was raised. I am an American, born and raised in Alaska. My ethnic background is German, English and Scottish.

For me, culture is all about family. It is a family’s belief systems, the cultural traditions that are celebrated, and the special holidays and events that occur each year.

My parents raised me with a lot of beliefs that have had an effect on who I am today. These are beliefs that don’t just belong to my culture, but come straight from the values of my own family. I believe that women are more intelligent than men because my mother is a strong woman.

I was raised to believe that through hard work I could become successful and have a good life. I strive to do this every day and to do well in my life and in my chosen career. My family is religious, and I’m not. However, I know that it is important to follow the golden rule and to treat others with dignity and respect. I believe that if you are a good person to others, you will be rewarded for it in many ways.

There are a lot of cultural traditions that my family has. Some are from my cultural background, and some are from the place where I was raised. I raise my son to have manners and to be well-behaved. I raise him to know that hard work is important and that he is expected to put his best effort into things.

Holidays are when my family gathers and has a good time together. We gather every summer in Haines so that all the cousins can grow up together. Birthdays were always important events while growing up. My mom was excited to celebrate every holiday. Trick-or-treating on Halloween, hiding baskets on Easter, passing out cards to classmates on Valentine’s Day, wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day, and of course, loads of presents under the tree on Christmas morning. My parents always made holidays a big deal, so now my son also gets to be excited for them every year.

My culture makes me a person that celebrates life. My family has a lot of good friends, and we are usually a good part of the community. We take care of each other and try to treat others with respect. We like to go outdoors and have adventures. My belief systems, cultural traditions, and special events have made me a happy person who is fun to be around and who can have a positive impact on others.