The beginning of a new year is often a time of reflection on the past and excitement for the future. It’s about celebrating accomplishments from the past year, identifying key lessons learned, and creating new goals or resolutions. As I reflect on 2020, a common theme that emerged was my identity. This was a year when I was focused on who I am and who I wanted to be. This was not solely about a career choice but more about my values, things that were important to me, people I wanted to be friends with, my career, and ultimately my happiness. This is the year that I discovered that one’s identity is not simple but instead, a complex combination of factors that, when embraced to their fullest, creates the happiness we are all striving to achieve.
What is this complex combination of factors that explain our identity? Steve Rose, Ph.D., defines a deeper meaning of identity, stating that it
“can be defined in three different ways: self-identity, social identity, and role-identity. Self-identity is how you identify with your personal characteristics, social-identity is how you identify with a group, and role-identity is how you identify with a particular social role.” 
This definition of identity was instrumental in my understanding of why I struggled with my own identity. As a young girl and woman, I had always thought that identity was singular. So I always applied a singular focus in everything I did and focused mostly on role-identity. My singular focus on being an exceptional student definitely took precedence over the other aspects of my identity. I defined my social identity based on my role as an exceptional student. This led to a lack of confidence, fear, and hesitancy to make decisions. This all changed in 2020 when I discovered that my identities are not competitive but instead complementary and interdependent.

An Example of the Power Created by Embracing Your Identities

I believe a great example of cultivating courage and confidence by embracing one’s identity is the new Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris. As the first female, first Black, and first South Asian and Jamaican Vice President, she has embraced her ethnic, gender, and racial identities. She also embraces and advocates for everyone to embrace their self, social and role identities. At the State of the Union event in September 2020, she stated
 “You didn't have to be confined by anyone else's idea of what it means to be Black. You could be a fine arts student and also be class president. You could be homecoming queen and be the head of the science club. You could be a member of a sorority and be in student government and want to go to law school, and it encouraged you to be your full self.”
Kamala Harris demonstrates the courage and confidence it takes to embrace all her defining characteristics, values, and qualities; her identities. Her accomplishments as California Attorney General, a US Senator, and a Vice President are a testament to embracing one’s identities for success.

Steps To Recognize Your Identities and Use Them to Your Advantage

How do you identify and then embrace all your identities for success? The below steps will help guide you:
1. Reflect on your current environment to determine your:
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This helps you understand the things that are important that give you purpose, without which you may lack confidence and courage. 
2. Describe your future self based on your identities. In other words, what do you envision for yourself based on your values, talents, social interests, and purpose?  Then create aspirational but achievable goals. Be confident in making these choices because you have embraced your identities.
3. Create plans that leverage your identities to achieve your goals. Then execute these plans courageously, while evaluating your progress and readjusting your plans.
Being bold is about cultivating confidence and courage to embrace all facets of our identity. It’s about being bold in your everyday actions and not limiting yourself. It is not mentioned enough, especially to young girls or gender non-confirming youth, that their identity is not singular. It’s multi-dimensional and can be a source of strength and power. Ultimately, if you cultivate the confidence and courage needed to embrace your identities, you can be your full self. Be bold so you can be anything and everything at once.

WRITTEN BY

Bryanna Samuels