Reflection on Personal Stories in Alcoholics Anonymous

I think that stories, reflections, and language all can construct identity as well as contribute to it. The stories and experiences that people have while they are growing up or even just the stories that they have while they are adults can have a huge impact on their identity and how they act around other people. If a child saw either one of their parents suffer from alcoholism while they were growing up they probably are going to have a certain opinion about alcohol when they are older.  A person's whole identity can be changed or shaped from one single experience. In other cases they may have a single identity that they want to stay true to but then act differently around different people because of the situation or their social surrounding. I think that language can construct a certain identity, such as what you are born with, but not as much the identity that you want to create for your own personality and beliefs.

In my critical narrative I definitely think that reflecting on myself did construct my identity. Talking about being a good friend I was able to explain what some of my beliefs are and what is important to me. Even if I did only explain what I think it means to be a good friend, it still constructed a part of my identity that I could share with everyone. I personally don't think that I came to a new understanding with myself because I already knew what I was going to talk about. I know what my beliefs and opinions are and by writing this paper I talked about them in more depth but It was nothing new that I hadn't already believed before.