Family

My family defines me. I love my family to the moon and back and I think that throughout the 15 years that I have been a part of their lives it has influenced my culture in many different ways. The history of every family is different and mine is to. From a Scottish, secular humanist to on the otherside a Jewish New Yorker I have a very complex but amzing family. This contrast has brought many stories and tales into my life that I have taken and will spread to my children. My parents have worked at Nike for many years now so sports and sportswear have also been a big impact on my life. I have been involved in many different sports in my life including baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, golf and skiing. Lastly the definition of beauty has also influenced my life because of who I live with. My mom, dad and sister all think beauty is in everyone its a matter of how you express it.

Geography

Geography is a really big part of me. I love where I am from and where I have lived for the past 15 years. I would say Oregon is as beautiful and wackadoodle as they come and it makes you feel accepted no matter who you are. No matter who you are or where you come from Oregon is open arms as they say. I feel like where I am from is so unique and there is such a bond and loving compassion for anyone you see walkoing down the sidewalk. This has definitley affected my lifstyle. Language, Clothing and style, history, definition of beauty and intelligence, food, transportation, you name it these are all altered compared to any other person living in the United States because of where I am from. That's why where I am from is such a big part of my culture in every way possible.

Religion

One of the most prominent cultures in my identity is my religion. Being Jewish has shaped who I am since I was born. I feel it is a unique extended part of me that I love to share with other people. Hebrew is the language of the Jews which I have been taught to speak in forms of prayer while studying for my Bar Mitzvah which I had when I was 13 years old. Since my family and I are only have Jewish and not orthodox we do not have required elements of clothing but while having the ceremony of my Bar Mitzvah I wore what's known as a talit which goes around both shoulders and a yamikah which is a small circular fabric piece that goes on the top of your head. These articles of clothing are symbols of Judaism that I still posses and occasionally wear. I love my religion of Judaism and I think it makes me who I am today.