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Garrett Walker's Portfolio Page
Critical Narrative
From the moment of birth, my Nature-identity was written and concrete. I was a son, a younger brother, a cousin, and many other things. These Nature-identities seemed to be unchangeable but were proven otherwise nine years later when I became the middle child.
Through my early years and into first attempt at college, my Affinity-identity took on many forms. Every sport, hobby, or social group would leave it's own mark on who I was and what I represented.
As I continued to age, I would continue to find multiple hobbies that would spark my interest. At times, the older ones would be left behind to fade away and make room for new things. Each new interest afforded new friends to be made and more groups to be a part of. These transitions provided my Affinity-identity with a fluidity not seen in the other aspects of who I was. In addition, they all contributed to who I was overall. Today I identify mostly as a poker player and a snowboarder. While I have been a big fan of poker since high school, snowboarding didn't really take hold of me until I was stationed in New Mexico. After spending a weekend in the Rockies I was instantly addicted. From then on I would make trips to various mountains in the Rockies during any extended breaks from work. Even during the warm months I would find myself wishing to be in some fresh powder.
When I joined the military, I was given an Institution-identity. Starting out, I was known simply as, "Trainee." As I progressed through the ranks and took on additional duties, I was given many more identities. At first I was given the rank Airman First Class which meant I was no longer "the new guy." The younger Airmen knew that they could come to me for information regarding their job and the struggles to come because I had been there before them and knew the life they were begining. Soon after I became an Seinor Airman which meant a leadership role was soon to come. Toward the end of my enlistment I gained the rank of Staff Sergeant. This rank left the most impact on my Institution-identity. Not only was I known by the rank, but all the responsibilities that came with it. With each new rank or title, the old one would disovle, but the lessons learned from each position continued to hold weight within my identity. At the end of it all I had been known as a security specialist; a marksman; Visitor Control Clerk; a patrolman; a supervisor; Fleet Manager, a sharpshooter; a law enforcement officer; a brother in arms. I was all of these things and they were all of me.
I've been told on many occasions that I don't take things serious enough and that I joke around a bit much. Whether I'm looking to entertain myself, trying to put someone in a better mood, or just because I feel like it, I've always been a bit of a clown. Because I have been told this by others, and described in this way by others, it is a part of my Discourse-identity. One instance in particular came while I was deployed in an African location. Out of boredom I made up a game called, "Night-vision Ping-Pong," as a result of using a makeshift ping-pong table in conjunction with night-vision goggles in order to goof around with my co-workers. The results from a lack of depth-perception and peripheral vision ended up yielding some good laughs for us all.
Now that I am out of the military, my identity has taken yet another shift. My Institution-identity has now transformed from being a military member to that of a Veteran. In addition, I will soon be gaining a new Institution-identity when I become a husband which also leaves potential for a Nature-identity change. Through life I may gain more facets to my identity, but the overall product is actually what makes me who I am. Even the things that I have long left behind are still part of me. I do not wish to see my end any sooner than I have to, but I look forward to seeing who I am when that time comes.
When discusing identity and how it relates to people there are many view points that can be used. One intriguing point of view stated that there are four catagories that define how to evaluate a person's identity: Nature-identity, Institution-identity, Discourse-identity, and Affinity-identity. Using only one of the four catagories leaves a person's overall identity unknown or incomplete. Even though these identites have the potential to be constantly changing, they still leave a lasting impact on a person's overall identity. In some cases what was once used to identify a person becomes no longer applicable, but it still contributes to the overall aspect of their identity. It is through this idea that I have based this narrative describing my own identity.