Key concepts: Ethnicity, Identity

Ethnicity represents a group of people that identifies with common cultural characteristics such as language, faith, customs, traditions and ancestry. The concept identity comprises of a persons character and their social roots, including aspects such as skin color, nationality and family ancestry.

Growing up my parents, grand-parents, teachers and village at large taught me lessons and teachings that have molded me into the person I am today. Not only have these teachings had a great influence on my identity and how I carry myself, but they have also been great tools to get by my day to day life. In this blog I will discuss two teachings that I have been taught that have shaped who I am. 

Growing up I was one of those kids who wanted to do everything they could get their hands on. So in my fourth grade I saw a group of girls in town dressed as girl scouts, and before then I had always seen girl scouts only in movies or cartoons, like Isabella on the Disney's animated cartoon Phineas and Ferb. I was always intrigued by the idea of being one so I obviously jumped at this opportunity. My mom then found the group and I was enrolled to the Girl Guide's association. Not only did I find community and a sense of belonging amongst the other girls in the association but we were taught a lot of lessons and skills that equipped us for what one would call the real world. When you pledge and at the beginning and end of every guide meeting you say the your South African Guide promise which goes as follows: "I promise to do my best, to do my duty, to my God and to my country, to help other people and to keep the Guide law". The Guide law is made up of ten principles. These include: A guide is to be trusted, A guide is to be loyal, A guide to be helpful, A guide is to be friendly, A is to be polite and considerate, A guide is to care for the Earth and all living things, A guide is to be obedient, A guide is to be brave and cheerful, A guide is to be thrifty, and a guide respects herself and others. And the girl guide motto is "Be prepared".  The above mentioned teachings are things that I have till this day on applied to my life and have embodied. Not only have they taught me to be a descent member of society but they have also had a positive influence on the different relationships I have built throughout the years, how I tackle my daily tasks, also these principles reflect in my work ethic. Furthermore as a girl guide you are taught skills such as changing a car tyre and checking the oil level in a car, changing a light bulb, making different knots as well as starting a fire and cooking over a fire and you receive badges once you have successfully completed the task or challenge . These skills have taught me independence and some survival skills.

I also grew up in a Christian household, where the Bible was introduced to me. When I was younger I went to church like any other child on Sundays. At the time, I knew of the the commandments, teachings and principles that Christians lived but didn't quite understand them. Nevertheless, my mom had instilled following them. Now that I'm older and better understand the teachings for myself I am glad that I chose to live by the Christian principles. For example, the concept of virginity there was a period in my life where I all I knew of it was what my friends would say about it, and a lot of what they had to say about it contradicted what I was taught at home and at church. As I got older I read on and better understood the concept of virginity and its significance, which also shaped what it meant to me and my relationship with God. Which is why I  now know and understand why I was always told to not have intercourse before marriage. Many other teachings I have received from the Bible have taught me kindness, selflessness, honesty, perseverance and have also taught me who to turn to in trailing times of need.