How Books From our Childhood Shape our Identity

For many of us, whether we realize it or not, the books we read or were read to as young children have shaped the way we perceive ourselves and what we wish to be. The environment we are surrounded by as young children inevitably impacts us in various ways, and the media we consume as kids, such as books, is a part of that environment that shapes us.

As children, we may think the sole purpose of reading or being read to is entertainment or education, however, the themes and influential characters childhood books can contain often have the ability to stay with us as we get older, thus, influencing who we grow up to become in life. Characters in books we find influential can become role models for our younger selves, and role models have a major impact on a child's sense of self. For example if you read Harry Potter books as a child, and you find the character Hermione Granger's intelligence an admirable quality, you may have unknowingly been influenced by her character, and that's why you now find value in knowledge and learning. The themes communicated in children's books, whether it be friendship, compassion, or bravery, can also have a significant impact on us as kids, and if the themes in a book are communicated effectively, they can even stick with us for years to come. For instance, the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein emphasizes the importance of relationships, which may cause children to put a greater emphasis on relationships in their personal lives, not only in their childhood, but in their adulthood as well.

When we think about the things in life we enjoy, the things we value, and the things we hope to be in life, it can be hard to pinpoint a specific reason as to why these things are important to us personally. However, if books were in any way a part of your childhood, it is likely the books you consumed, the characters you looked up to, and the literary themes conveyed to you while you were still young and impressionable, played a major role in shaping who you were as a child, who you are today, and who you may become.

- Ava W., 11th Grade