What Does It Mean to Be Human?

     As an individual you develop from birth to adulthood by the experiences you learn both socially and culturally.  Your parents care for your basic needs and provide you with food, clothing and housing. You are born with basic instincts but it is your parents nurturing, care and values that is necessary for your survival and development. Your character and behavior is developed by the way you are raised and how you see the world.
    
     A study of the orphanages in Romania proved the importance of nurturing of babies and how neglect can effect young children both physically, emotionally and intellectually. Without love and attention you can not thrive.
    
     Some people grow up with a sense of "entitlement." Wealthier children grow to expect they will always have money because of their parent's influence as quoted by Robert Coles (1977) and have no problem believing they will succeed given that their parents can provide them with influence and typical social climbing. They believe these things are their inherited right. Poorer children may not be aware of this but with a strong sense of self and hard work they maybe able to achieve their goals.
    
     The country and lifestyle you grow up in, influences your world around you. Your gender, your families wealth and your own self esteem are a few of factor in your role and social status. Later in life, your friends and co-workers also have great meaning in your life. We are social creatures who are dependant on one another. Life is an interaction in which we grow in our society.
    
     Our gender also plays a part in our role in society. Sexuality in media is used to sell product. Sexy women are used to sell cars and liquor. There is no doubt, that we as human beings are influenced and molded into who we are, by our surroundings. Young people today are influenced by social media. We communicate much differently than our parents did. In the last 20 years, society has been forever change by social media with the cellphone, technology make the world a much easier place to communicate with others.

    In my own personal life my family and friends have influenced me greatly. My interaction with them has influenced me to go to college. I have my own sense of self. Growing up as an only child, I may have been spoiled. I received a lot attention but also developed my own self esteem. I have good friends who have given me support and I am confident. In part, it is probably because of my family and friends that I have a strong sense of self and motivation. We are all dependant on each other as humans need each other to survive. We are social creatures who are influenced by one another.