Poem "Where I am From" Reflection Essay

Relationships are manifested in our behaviors towards others and ourselves. In those interactions, relational communication, we weave very complex relational tapestries. Rogers' claims that these personal relationships-fragile bonds-house our most cherished identities and have a critical impact on who we are-and who we are continually impacts these relationships. Growing reciprocally wiser about these relationships is to, in part, take a look at the identities we take into our relationships. In chapter 2 of your main text, they go through three key areas: Development of Personal Identity; Principles of Identity Management; and Communicating Identity to Others. Your reflection on your poem is through the lens of self-selected key concepts from this chapter. Your poem may have been written by "you" yet who "you" are is a complex crystal of voices all impacting your own lens through which you "see" your self and communicate that vision to and with others. This identity is also continually in process and always unfinished business. So take a moment and step back from the poem and reflect on how your poem can be better understood from:

1. Key ideas/theories from both the "Principles of Identity Management" (pp. 35-38)
2. Key ideas/theories from "Communicating Identity to Others" (pp. 38-52).
3. Application of your social ghosts via Gergen's short article.

Begin with the claim that Rogers' made in her video about our identities and relationships. Then explore how this poem reveals some secrets about your own identity in relationship by applying self-selected ideas from both sections of your chapter 2 and the social ghosts from Mary Gergen. You MUST thoughtfully self-select items to use in your discussion---select only those that help you better understand your identity in relationship by reflecting on Where You Are From.