The implications of a person's identity make it a defining factor that is not only very intuitive and reflects their beliefs, values ​​and associations, but also has implications of long standing beyond that. How one chooses to define oneself is sometimes subject to bias, judgment, or prejudice. These can be harmful in a professional environment due to lost opportunities, but even more so in everyday life as a means of discrimination or other serious consequences. However, a person's identity can also have positive aspects. In some cases, this may take the form of preferential treatment from someone sharing a common identity, or in the form of a goal achieved through prior knowledge or skills that are part of one's identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayWhen I think about how I define myself and where I get my social identity from, three things stand out the most: My identity as an Arab-American, as a Christian, and as a first-generation college student. Each aspect of this social identity offers both opportunities and obstacles, but also has implications for my future and professional career. As I begin to truly analyze and reflect on the effects of my identity, I am intrigued by the diversity not only in my own social circle, but throughout the world and all the rich results that can result from that diversity. Naturally, race is the part of my social identity that is most often perceived by those around me, whether or not they assume the correct ethnicity. As an Arab-American, I have lived and been immersed in two different cultures, and this has allowed me to form a unique blend of values, community, and experiences. I learned English and Arabic simultaneously growing up, which helped me build relationships and help people. In fact, after starting my studies at UCSD, I was approached by a UCSD Extension student looking for a specific building, and the fact that we both spoke Arabic created a conversation easier and smoother and gave me more options to help him where there otherwise would be. be a language barrier. Additionally, it created a clear connection and basis on which we built relationships, making me more likely to put in more effort to help him due to a natural inclination to favor his own group . While my identity has afforded me many relational opportunities, it also presents some possible obstacles. According to Mahzarin Banaji and others in his work on implicit bias, it is explained that although people tend not to perceive themselves as biased against Arab-Americans, "they demonstrate substantial bias on implicit measures”. This is something that can be seen on a daily basis, as many people still wrongly assume that the words Arabic and terrorist are closely related and, in many cases, synonymous. This ignorance can often lead to fear or harmful discrimination against members of the Arab and Muslim community, and can have very serious and sometimes even fatal consequences. Sandra Sucher explains that such harmful stereotypes "may be fleeting and enduring, but they are nevertheless rooted in a particular historical and social context", and this reality gave me a platform in high school to write and present a speech aimed at educating and change people's perceptions. This.