Identity? PA training day 4

I see that I don't associate myself with a label or an identity. Today we had a safe zone exercise where we wrote different words to identify who we were as people, and to protect these titles. Everyone was relating themselves to a word that would define them as an individual, which I found placed them in a group... Like "Italian, Jewish, Muslim, Gay, etc..." Titles like these may define some of what you are, but in doing so places you in a category of a larger group. Thinking back on this I had a hard time coming up with a good identity for me... Student, son, brother were a few words but they weren't as profound as some of the others. Thinking about it, I've never really associated myself with a group of people, whether it be clicks in high school, or even today. I wouldn't say I'm an "E-gamer," because I don't relate to that group. I think there is a lot of emphasis on finding a place or group to belong to... Saying "my people" really doesn't mean anything to me, because my family doesn't associate ourselves with anybody... ethnicity wise or even religious (I'm not saying we're all atheists either). I think this is just the way I was brought up, and still feel today. I truly don't believe I fall into any of these real generalities. My identity is "Wes," there's no other association I can add to myself other than my name. I'm an individual... I'm not like everyone else... Sometimes it may be lonely but I'd much rather be unique.

Today was a great day! We all went to a ropes course, which was really fun and pretty much brought the whole group together. I can't believe how each day I see the comradery get stronger between all of us... It's truely a unique group. We had some safe zone excersizes after lunch, which were ally pretty sucessful. Afterwards I ran up to Steph's house to help her folks put on a Thule Rack, and in return they fed me =)

I came back and was able to catch a little bit of Grey's with Alicia, hung out some with Mike, and then I was becond by the RA on duty phone to handle a check out. To be honest I'm pretty nervious about this Saturday, I feel like I have so much stuff to move. Just now I was trying to pack some but just don't seem to know what to do with it all. Tomorrow I have decided that I'll make it home for at least a night which will be awesome. I really have to sleep now so I can be rested for tomorrow... but one last thing... Lauren and I had a conversation a few days back about coming up with Japanese names and she came up with one for me! Mamoru Nagahara, the first name means protector and the last means eternal wilderness. So in Japanese terms my name means Protector of the Eternal Wilderness... Bad ass I might say!

Thanks Lauren =)