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
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
___________
___________
___________
