Sources of my Identity

My love for horses has had the most influence on the person I am today. I began horseback riding at age 2 and have not stopped since. I ride at least once a week during the school year and everyday during the summer. On horseback, I feel at peace. It has taught me the benefits of hard-work and persistence. Competitive horseback riding involves a lot of failure for few successes. For many people, this is extremely frustrating. FOr me, it allowed me to appreciate my successes and learn to deal with my failure. It has made me level-headed in hard situations. When I'm riding, I feel that I can do anything and be anything I want to be, which is reassuring in a world that always puts roadblocks in my way. I know it is something I will continue to do for the rest of my life.

Another factor that affected my identity is my family. I have a loud, opinionated, very Italian family. We are small and close-knit, meeting for an extended family reunion at least once every year. They taught me what it means to work hard to get what you want. They made me tough and sometimes unbearably stubborn. They all taught me to stand my ground and fight for what I believe in. They bequeathed me all of my positive and negative qualities, which I would not trade for the world. These qualities connect me to my family, whom I look up to. They have truly made me the person I am today and gave me the strength and independence that I will need to go out on my own. The Mount also helped shape my identity. I have changed a lot since my first day of freshmen year. The Mount taught me to be independent and opinionated. More importantly, the Mount community taught me to express and defend these opinions. The Mount exposed me to diversity and a unique acceptance of this diversity. I learned to be open-minded and brave in the face of challenges and new experiences.The Mount really prepared me to go to college both scholastically and emotionally. I have ready to take on new opportunities and develop myself further as a person.