I find myself asking that same question every day; who am I? I know I’m probably perceived as an introverted and boring person to most, but I’m actually an extremely expressive person and have many interests once you get to know me (or so I like to tell myself). But more often than not, I feel like a puzzle with pieces that don’t fit. I feel like everyone is sure of who they are, and what they stand for, and I’m struggling to pick what version of me I want to present to the world everyday; do I want to show that I’m trying to be put together? Do I want to show that I don’t care if I get judged for my appearance by wearing no makeup? Or do I change who I am entirely depending on who I’m talking to?

Identity is the one thing that’s individual so why am I still figuring out mine? It’s because I still have time to. I still have time to be influenced by the media, and other people, and shape my identity. You may be wondering why I have just asked so many questions and that’s because I’m still questioning everything about myself. So this assignment has really challenged some of my thoughts as I’ve had to be introspective and think about who I am at my core. 

But this past year has given me clarity, due to my gap year after sixth form. I realised that I was comfortable with others using gender neutral pronouns for me along with female ones; I discovered I don’t always feel what society deems ‘feminine’ and sometimes I simply want to exist as just Sophie, or what people call being non-binary. That’s how I describe my gender identity. Obviously your whole identity is more than just your gender, but figuring out that aspect has helped me as someone who wants to create; I want to ensure individuals understand and embrace their authentic selves. This is something that I have started working on, especially when starting my university journey. First impressions are everything nowadays especially with society having a mediated life and knowing that someone can swipe you away if they don’t like you, simply based on appearance. Fortunately, I have come to terms with this idea and I’m no longer bothered by what strangers think of me and so I publicly post content that would be considered ‘embarrassing’ to some, but to me I’m simply having fun and wanting to capture memories. That’s what I wish to achieve as a creative. I want to explore every possibility, much like how I feel about my identity, and enjoy every moment.