In addition to more “normal” ways of conceptualizing identity—such as race/ethnicity, gender/sex, religion, etc—we’ve found that thinking about ways they explore and express the roles/identities listed below can be a great way for students to brainstorm ideas for a personal statement (such as an identities-threaded montage), or to add depth to a personal statement or supplemental essay draft (see: Hiking essay example).
Instructions:
Bold the top 10 roles you identify with most right now.
Next, underline the Top 5.
Italicize 3 values that you are “calling in” (wanting to be/experience more).
Finally, write 2-3 sentences or bullet points describing how/where you play these roles in life, or would like to.
Adventurer
Advocate
Ally
Ambassador
Amplifier
Anticipator
Architect
Artist
Attuner
Author
Big picture thinker
Bookworm
Builder
Catalyst
Challenger
Champion
Change-maker
Cheerleader
Coach
Collaborator
Comedian
Composer
Connector
Contrarian
Coordinator
Counselor
Creator
C0-Creator
Critical thinker
Culture-creator
Curator
Decision-maker
Delegator
Details person
Diplomat
Doer
Dreamer
Empathizer
Energizer
Engager
Engine
Enthusiast
Environmentalist
Executor
Expert
Experimenter
Explorer
Facilitator
Fighter
Fixer
Founder
Friend
Giver
Guide
Harmonizer
Helper
Hole-poker
Human calculator
Hustler
Idealist
Improviser
Innovator
Integrator
Interest hopper
Interpreter
Intuitive
Inventor
Investigator
Leader
Learner
Listener
Maker
Mediator
Mentor
Mess-maker
Nature-lover
Nerd
Nurturer
Observer
Organizer
Party-bringer
Peacemaker
Pessimist
Philosopher
Planner
Playmate
Producer
Problem-solver
Protector
Prophet
Question-asker
Reader
Realist
Recommender
Refiner
Researcher
Risk-taker
Scientist
Seeker
Seer
Self-starter
Shape-shifter
Storyteller
Strategist
Synthesizer
Systems-maker
Teacher
Team player
Telepath
Thinker
Tinkerer
Troubleshooter
Truth-teller
Unifier
Validator
Visionary
Wanderer
Weaver
World-builder
Writer
___________
___________
___________
