Gesra Marie L.

Hospital STEM 1-A

Are you real?

There is always this familiar sound that makes you turn around anywhere and anytime you
hear it. Suddenly, you are urged to know where it came from and ask, “Did you call me?” because
hearing the familiarity of the word had triggered your automatic response. The sound of your
identity. Your name, as defined by Merriam-Webster is a word or phrase that constitutes the
distinctive designation of a person or thing and is the most common distinction of your
individuality. The things that make you, you. Aside from our names, we also have many factors to
consider in distinguishing who we really are. Often time you would use the phrase “This is me” or
“This is the real me” when expressing yourself to others. This is when you introduce or proclaim
your own style, interests, and personality. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, it all boils down to
one question. Is your idea of “you” real?
Scientists conclude that the average human body contains approximately 37.2 trillion cells.
However, despite this humongous number it is undeniable fact that cells are still constantly
changing. According to science, the cells in your body now are very different from the cells in your
body seven years ago. Therefore, your biology is never actually the same. Except for you brain,
because braincells have finite life. Now you are led to believe that what you think is constantly real
all through out, right?
Your personality, the traits and habits you develop over time, no matter how distinctive its
role is, it cannot be limited to what you think or believe is yours. Christopher Sotto, an associate
professor of psychology at Colby College and a member of the executive board of the Association
for Research in Personality explains that while personality traits are relatively stable over time,
they can and often do gradually change across the life span (2016). Usually these changes are
caused by situations or experiences that you encounter, such as life threatening experiences,
when you’re stuck in a foreign situation, or being around in new social groups wherein you have
to adapt. You would even notice these shifts when you observe yourself when you are in front of
the people you are comfortable with versus strangers. Moreover, this things would make you thing
about how there is no real you but multiple yous.
One can only see life through his own perception. You might think that you know who you
really are. However, as this perfect metaphor goes about perspectives "One might see the glass of
water as half full or half empty” there is a high probabilty that who you think you are not how
others think of you. Perhaps we never really are the same person.
Throughout our lives, we encounter multiple changes. Some, even requiring us to adjust
and adapt. These changes can create positive and negative impacts in who we are. “There is no
real you, just multiple yous” must not apply. They say quality over quantity. But it does not matter
how many phases of “you” there is. Because you can still be genuine and sincere no matter who
you are, and what you are made of. Rather, there is no absolute you- just multiple real yous.
Gesra Marie L. Hospital STEM 1-A

Coping with Loneliness