Last Updated on 05/21/2026 by Ethan Sawyer
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:
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Bold the top 10 roles you identify with most right now.
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Next, underline the Top 5.
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Italicize 3 values that you are “calling in” (wanting to be/experience more).
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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 – Co-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 – 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 – ___________ – ___________ – ___________ |
