Persons and factors shaping my identity!
In life, we're often told that everyone is special and unique. But let me tell you something, that's just a load of bull! Delving deep within myself, I can't help but realize that nothing about me is original. I'm a walking, talking amalgamation of every soul I've crossed paths with. Most of us are impersonators, puppets really - dancing to the tunes of others.
Each page of my autobiography is penned with the essence of those who've touched my life. My eyes mirror the warmth of my mother, and my laughter mimics the humor of my old man. The words that tumble out of my mouth are seasoned with a pinch of wisdom from my beloved bua, and my heart dances the fandango to the rhythm of crushes I shared with my stylish cousin sis.
Just like a dynamic river, I've been shaped by the people who've been my banks. The quirky way I write my 'r's, a habit from my Class V bench pal, is just one of the many imprints they've left on me. I walk with the confidence of my Class VIII English teacher, who I idolized, and my handwriting is a dance of contrasts, mirroring my father's precision and my Class IX friend's breezy style.
I end my sentences with a period, just like my favorite Instagram influencer, and my speech has a sing-song rhythm reminiscent of a tv show I binged in Class X, despite my mom's disapproval.
I paint my cheeks with blush and apply highlighter on my nose, lessons passed down by my elder cousin sister, and a box of saunf takes me on a journey, a habit picked up from my friend's mom, who I didn't even know properly.
My hair, freely flowing, reflects the affection of my ex-partner, while my white sneaks with splashes of pink are emblems of my little brother's belief in their silent stories. My pastel nail polish is inspired by an influencer I admire, and in love, I give it my all, just as I'd like my future partner to.
Looking in the mirror of my appearance, I see fragments of those I've known and loved and interacted with. But these are just the surface marks. Deeper within lie shadows - the fears I bear as shadows of those around me.
Fears like the harrowing sensation of heights that I inherited from witnessing a stranger's tumble, or the cold shivers that sound the alarm when I come across sharp objects, a relic of a childhood mishap. Empathy for loss is a deep-rooted sentiment within me, nurtured by personal experiences with grief and death.
I don't laugh at singers who croon about their abandonment issues, knowing what it feels like to have those feelings. And dogs, once loveable creatures, stimulate a cautiousness in me, a remnant of my brother's frightening encounters.
Trust, once shattered by former companions, now cautiously rebuilds its home within my heart. Words I choose are weighed carefully, lessons learnt from a time when my truths were once greeted with laughter. I become overly defensive when someone comments on my appearance, haunted by the memory of an ex-best friend who betrayed me with a cruel image.
I'm a patchwork quilt of every soul I've met, every lesson I've learned, every tear I've shed, and every smile I've shared.
So tell me, what's the essence of my being? Each thread - be it a trait, a love, a fear, or a lesson - is woven together to form the unique fabric of my being.
It's a fragile balance of every soul I've ever met, every lesson I've ever learned, every tear I've ever shed, and every smile I've ever shared.
Inaayat Juneja, Class XII, The Tribune School, Chandigarh
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- Inaayat Juneja's personal growth is a tapestry of news, education-and-self-development, lifestyle, and opinions, as it is woven together from the experiences, lessons, and influences of various people she's encountered.
- The essence of Inaayat Juneja's being, reflected in her lifestyle, education, and self-development, is a dynamic mix of borrowed traits, learned lessons, and personal experiences, blending with her original thoughts and emotions.
