“One of the main tasks of adolescence is to achieve an identity—not necessarily a knowledge of who we are, but a clarification of the range of what we might become, a set of self-references by which we can make sense of our responses, and justify our decisions and goals.”

Terri Apter

As we grow older the range of possibilities tends to diminish as society encourages specialization. Since college my perceived identity as a ‘software engineer’ produced some self-doubt about who I was, as this single label didn’t encapsulate my whole identity. Through ouroboros-like re-creation and renewal I explore and evolve my identity as an artist, caretaker, thinker and beyond.

But this is not a solitary undertaking. How can my quest encourage others to explore other facets of their early identity that may appear dormant? What dialog can occur between masters of various disciplines, when we begin to view our identity as a range rather than singular? And, most importantly, how can we encourage children to form a healthy, diverse identity, committed to exploring their full potential as they walk through the decisions of life.