What is it that defines us as people in society, as individuals? The surroundings of our society itself is what pieces our life together to form the people we are today. An individual I am convinced is formed by the environment they are from or put into. That is how there are so many different people and personalities in the world of today. As we discussed in the reading of “Interesting Times” from the book Another City, from the reading of “The Mall” in the book convergences, and from my own analysis of how my life is figured in living in the city of Los Angeles. I believe this was most significant in our class discussion during this part of the semester.

The way our surroundings shape the way we carry ourselves can come from many different distinct parts of our society. In the reading of “Interesting Times” by Judith Lewis, she illustrates the way Los Angeles shaped her life as a walking cliché living in the City of Angels. Lewis never believed in the beginning that she would even be found dead in Los Angeles. However, her environment no matter how rough or dangerous would make her part of the society in Los Angeles. Apart from being car jacked numerous times, fear of ending up in the wrong neighborhood, and hearing countless gunshots; she would not rather live or be anywhere else.  This is how Lewis establishes how her life in Los Angeles pieced her personality as a walking, breathing, cliché.

Another way I believe the significance of being shaped by your surroundings is illustrated by the reading of “The Mall” in the book Convergences. It shows how a man goes into the Mall of America in Minnesota and is supposed to be in the mall for a week from opening to closing time. By the end of his adventure he is a changed man. He is very antsy and aggressive. This goes to show how the environment that you are put in alters your character for good or for worse. This is another example of how your society is what shapes your personality.

Finally, in this part of the semester we discussed how society shapes your being as a person and pieces your character. My own analysis of my life in L.A. is figured by the society where I grew up and the difficulties I have faced. Being a full-time student and a full-time worker is not the easiest lifestyle someone can ask for. I have become a more independent and responsible human being for the struggles that I am dealt. This is how I am shaped by the community around me that I am a part of.

So is it really true that our community and surroundings are what shape our existence in society? I say, yes. I can relate in how we illustrated in class with the readings of “Interesting Times” and “native to the Place”. Society has a huge impact on the people that are living in it, that is how we have so many distinct personalities in the world and many different people.