[YRP Students' Essays] My Identity - Projects

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[YRP Students' Essays] My Identity

Do you have a complex about your body? Most people have some complex about their bodies. Then they do something to solve it. That is, they change their body by themselves. Is there some definite identity in their mind?

I have naturally brown hair, and it was a complex for me when I was an elementary school student. I did not like my hair color. Japanese people usually have black hair, so I was a little different from the others. Maybe other people think that it is a good point that my hair color is brown though I am Japanese. However, it was a complex for me.

At first, I liked my hair color. My friends always said to me, "You have brown hair; did you color your hair?" I always answered, "No, it is my natural hair color." It was true, but some of my friends said, "You are lying! We're sure your hair is colored!" It was not a big deal, but I was hurt and sad at times like that because I was young. I wanted them accept my true identity.

On the other hand, I cannot understand why many Japanese people want to color their hair. I have always thought that changing something about my body is bad, for example, to coloring my hair or piercing my ears. It disguises the true appearance. However, I realize that this, also, may be a way for some people to express their own individual identity.

Each person has their own identity, and they may have a complex about something. We should respect each other's identities and differences. Now, I no longer hate my hair color. If I can accept all the parts of myself, I can also begin to truly accept others. Loving myself is the first step to respecting other people.


Child Research Net would like to thank the Doshisha International Junior/Senior High School and Lisa Wakabayashi, student and author, for permitting reproduction of this article on the CRN web site.

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