1. Jack Moran 10:00
Intro to Communications Final Exam
Who are you? When asked this question I would respond “Jack”. Jack is my name and it
is who I am. Without the use of my name the question becomes more difficult to answer. What
others think of me and what I think of myself determines my true identity.
For years I’ve known that I wanted to be an environmentalist. Determining who I want to
be is far more difficult. Throughout my life I have created my Identity through my actions. Some
decisions have negatively influenced my identity. Instances when I was lazy, dishonest, mean,
judgmental, etc. were deciding how others viewed me. I am also proud of certain aspects of my
Identity. My friends think I am personable. I can start a conversation with a complete stranger. I
am also respectful. Adults have said I am well-mannered.
Times when I am not satisfied with who I am I wonder: Who do I want to be? This
question was a reoccurring theme throughout the semester. During this time I learned about
several people including Colin Kaepernick, Kevin Breel, and Arianna Huffington. Certain
aspects of their identities make me rethink how I want to be perceived. Listening to their
experiences makes me want to alter areas of my life. By adopting their positive attributes I can
inch closer to reaching my full potential.
I identify Collin Kaepernick as being brave. He took action in a controversial matter that
he was passionate about. He kneeled during the pledge of allegiance on national television. He
risked compromising his own identity to bring attention to racial discrimination. I want to
embody the ability to step out of my comfort zone and express myself. I want to escape the
restraints I am expected to conform to.
Another person I learned from was Kevin Breel. He spoke about coping with depression
during a ted talk. He did not let depression define him. I define Kevin Breel by his resilience.
Kevin Breel accepted that he suffered from depression and adapted to this condition. When
depression would bring him down he was able to get back up. There are several parts of my life
that are holding me back. If I can demonstrate Kevin Breel’s resilience, I will be able to
overcome these limitations.

2. The last person I was impacted by was Arianna Huffington. Arianna Huffington is the co-
founder of the Huffington post; a popular news editorial. I define her as being extremely
successful. She developed a multi million dollar company from the ground up. This is extremely
impressive in a male dominated world. I hope to one day reach the level of successes that she
has. This requires me to be extremely dedicated and hardworking. Practicing these skills at the
caliber she has means guaranteed success.
My surroundings also have a great deal of influence on my identity. Society forces
certain principles on me. In my life diverging from these principles meant distancing myself
from normality. I have made decisions that contradict my own ideals to ensure acceptance. In
class I learned about ‘the Filter Bubble’. The Filter Bubble is used by companies to limit
information and products to customers immediate interests. Companies like Facebook, Google,
and amazon along with numerous media sources use software to determine a users identity. This
identity determines the information users are exposed to. Sometimes the filter bubble helps
minimize irrelevant information. Unfortunately these industries methods for maximizing profits
are also influencing customers identities. I’ve concluded that the negative affects of the filter
bubble outweigh the positives. Information that has passed through the filter bubble is often
inaccurate. It is nearly impossible to transition away from an undesired identity if I’m not being
exposed to accurate Ideas.
So who am I and who do I want to become? I am just another person trying to maximize
my potential. I am greatly affected by the actions of others and my surroundings. I determine
how I will live my own life by learning from my own and others experiences. I want to be
intelligent. I want others to rely on my knowledge. I want to be a leader. I want people to model
their identities around my actions. Finally I want to be successful. In life success is my ultimate
goal. Embodying the principles discussed above is my version of success. Intro to
communications provided me with the tools I need to become who I intend. Using these skills
has and will continue bringing me closer to becoming my best self.