This past February WASB hosted an internal DEI workshop where we invited the Office of Inclusion Education to discuss identity and awareness at one of our general meetings. We hold these workshops every semester and each time they look a little different, whether it be a new topic, or a new organization that we invite. However, these workshops always provide members with something new to carry into their lives on campus. Unfortunately for me, it was an identity crisis.
During this workshop we had a personal identity activity where we were asked to create an identity “constellation” outlining our core traits. Naturally, I tackled this with the usual WASB enthusiasm, so after getting my sheet of paper, I spent the next 5 minutes writing down my countless identities… I came up with an underwhelming four: curiosity, my sense of humor, music taste, and responsibility.
The thing was, we were being asked for unique personal identities, and I don’t have any. Not to say that I have the personality of a brick wall, but rather everything I could identify is shared with others. Even the four I came up with were shared.
My curiosity was a gift from my dad, a science teacher, who always found a way to monologue about reflection, refraction and dispersion when explaining the magic of rainbows. Keep in mind this was only when I was five. Later in life, I would be upgraded to physics where he would walk around our kitchen like it was a classroom and describe general relativity with a blanket.
I identify strongly with my sense of humor, and I share it with my mom, who almost never thinks twice about embarrassing herself or doing something silly as long as it gets a laugh. She is specifically a fan of those photo stand-ins, and deeply enjoys updating my brothers and me whenever she finds a new one.
Although my music taste is something I have curated throughout the past 22 years of my life, it’s still the same as my older brother Alex’s. It’s almost like each time I send him a new song I find out that not only has he already heard it, but he’s actually been listening to it for the last 5 years.
While I’d like to consider myself responsible, even that is something I didn’t develop myself. As the pinnacle of level-headed organization my oldest brother Sam is to thank for any shred of it that I have.
After questioning everything about my individuality, I began to wonder what other traits I’ve pulled from my surroundings, so I switched my focus to the WASBies I was sitting in the room with.
Being from Wisconsin, I grew up in a big euchre household, so when I looked around the room and spotted Will and Molly, I was happy to think how they both shared the so-called “love of the game.” I’d like to note that neither of them have ever said no to a game of euchre.
As an instagram reels truther, and a roommate in a house of 12 guys, I’d consider myself pretty tapped into brain rot. Looking in front of me, I noticed Elena and Bella sitting next to each other and I knew that they would both unconsciously laugh at a 6-7 joke or the notorious John Pork.
In the corner of the room, I noticed my roommate Eli. We joined WASB together and I’m sure there are multiple traits we share, but the one that came to mind is his incessant demand that I break in the spines of my books before I start reading so as to not crease it. I’m sure I’ll curse his name each and every time I do it from now on.
I continued my personality search around the room for the remaining workshop and began to find some peace in the fact that my traits were not unique. After all, so many of my significant identities came from the people I admire in my life, and I find no shortage of those people on WASB. It is an organization full of incredibly passionate, well-rounded, cheerful members that have come together to create positive impacts on the individuals and communities around them.
Knowing that so much of my personality either comes from or is supported by WASB turned what started out as an identity crisis into an overwhelming sense of community. While my time on WASB is coming to a close, I am incredibly grateful to know that I share interests and identities with such wonderful people. WASB has shaped so much of my college experience, and if my personality and identities are any representation of my past, I want my WASB-isms to shine through.
With our applications being open, who knows, you might join and find a piece of yourself in others, or discover new things about yourself. I guarantee you’ll walk away with a new found passion for Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide and hugs.