Shaping a Life

In class we've been discussing the metaphor of the growing man. Obviously, the physical growth of a baby into an adult is impressive, but it is an individual's capacity to develop beyond that which is impressive. Over the course of a lifetime, babies mature into functioning members of society. They take in their surroundings and learn from their environment, only to then develop their own unique personality and traits. These characteristics are largely influenced by the company we hold; through socialization, individuals do not necessarily develop new characteristics, but rather ones they have seen others exhibit. It's pretty easy to see this in younger children, but it's interesting to think of the effects of socialization on older individuals. For example, after spending a few hours with another person who laughs or talks in an interesting way, I have caught myself using their speech pattern or imitating their laugh. It's usually noticeable and does not effect my life very much, but it just goes to show that the people around us never stop influencing our lives.