Identity
Who are you? Do the roles you play and the identity you adopt inform your life or career choices?
Sometimes we are unaware of influences upon us which inform our identity. We almost need to ‘step outside ourselves’ to evaluate what we think and feel about ourselves and how these perceptions inform our behaviours and choices.
Listen to the following case studies. Or if you prefer, read the transcript. How do these students' identities influence the career choices they are making?
Case study 1
Case study 2
Review
Having listened to these case studies, think about:
- How is the image these clients have formed about themselves influencing their choices?
- How is this person’s self-image affecting their ability to make progress?
- If this person was your best friend, would you sensitively challenge their self-perception and the impact it is having on them? How would you do this?
How does your identify inform the choices you make and the actions you take?
Here’s a quick task. Click on the graphic below and download the Identity task. See if you can add 20 things to complete the sentence 'I am ...'
Reflection
- Looking at how you have defined yourself, does your identity / self-image have an impact on your ability to make progress with your career thinking?
- How have the ways you have defined yourself influenced your attitudes, behaviours and ideas about opportunities open to you?
- Are you happy with these self-defined roles? Or as your own best friend, how would you challenge this sense of your own identity and the impact it is having on you?
