There are numerous risks that one faces throughout his or her life.

The risks that one takes play an importance in helping one define who he or she is. Taking a risk is defined as putting oneself in a situation whose outcome is uncertain and may present dangerous consequences. Risks present themselves in several different ways and forms such as physically or emotionally. One usually takes a risk in the hopes of receiving an award which could either be tangible or intangible. Some rewards that risk taking can result in are the feelings of pride and achievement, or the discovery of a hidden talent or ability. Taking risks allows one to explore and involve oneself in different experiences. Identities are formed by the combination of the different experiences one encounters, thus taking risks results in a change of identity. One must embrace the possibility of danger and take risks in order to experience different aspects of life and enhance his or her identity because by not taking risks to avoid the consequences, one puts him or herself in more danger. Rebellion is the refusal of obedience and order and is a means of deviating from the norm in order to find ones individuality. People live in world where mostly everyone follows the same daily rituals and is under similar expectations of how one should act. This structured lifestyle leaves little room for one to be recognized as a distinct individual. In the hopes of being seen as separate person rather than a part of a group, one deviates from the mundane life and acts differently from others. Nafisi supports this point when she says, each has become distinct through the color and style of her clothesnot even the two who are still wearing their head scarves look the same. (248). By simply removing their black robes and revealing the different outfits worn underneath, the women were able to be defined by something other than their names. Nonconformity comes with several consequences such as being punished, ridiculed, or rejected by others. The women in Nafisis story put their lives at stake by going against the rules enforced by the Iranian government and risking execution. Although not conforming to accepted standards can result in disapproval and other penalties, it allows one the opportunity to live life as an individual and be recognized for his or her unique qualities. Putting oneself in fearful situations that are usually avoided enhances ones personality by making one emotionally resilient and prepares him or her for difficult situations in the future. When one is faced with danger and is able to successfully survive through the situation, he or she develops an increase in self-confidence and discovers his or her true strength. Confronting a fear prepares one for even more dangerous circumstances that one would not be able to approach if he or she was restricted by that fear. Armstrong provides an example of this idea when she writes about the initiation ceremonies. He has faced death, come out the other side, and is now psychologically prepared to risk his life for his people. After the initiation ceremonies, the boys were gifted with the knowledge of how to fight death and thus no longer feared it. The riddance of a fear presents one with new opportunities. If one does not attempt to involve themselves in what one considers a state of danger, he or she would be unable to experience a new life; a life with no fear. Being unsuccessful in new endeavors is normally regarded as something negative, however it actually possesses an abundance of advantages. A common fear amongst people is the fear of failure. People avoid taking chances and attempting new things with the fear of not successfully completing the task and as a result, they lose the chance of expanding their identity. It is obvious that success comes with rewards and succeeding in more difficult tasks leads to greater rewards. If one does not set higher goals because he or she is afraid of not being able to reach them, he or she loses the chance of getting the possible reward. This reward can be either external or internal. The internal reward would be a sense of pride and accomplishment. People who constantly fail develop persistence in the face of

difficulty, which is a very strong personality trait. They also learn from their mistakes resulting in a greater personal growth. If one does not challenge oneself in order to avoid failure, he or she is deprived the opportunity to improve his or her ways of thinking and approaching problems. A risk can be approaching something in a different and unfamiliar way, and being able to do this results in a complex identity and allows one to perceive the world in a way that is different from everyone else.