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Politics and Activism

I Am...

I am more than one thing.

Bethany Cutlip

Feb 22, 2017

Concord University

New Life Triangle

This poem was written to showcase some of the various words and phrases that make up my identity. We could all make a list like this if we really tried. I encourage all of you reading this to do just that. Write out a list, each item starting with the words I am. It doesn't have to be in any particular order, mine sure is not. Once you have completed that list to the best of your ability, count how many you came up with. I managed to write 108 different phrases that make up my identity, and I could write many more. Apply that to the billions of people that inhabit this planet. We are complex creatures with complex identities, but the one thing I am most certain of is that the only true place to find our identity is in Christ.

I am...

I am a person

I am a woman

I am tall, 5'8" to be exact

I am of a certain age

I am a singer

I am a musician

I am an actress

I am the Drama Coach

I am a student

I am a teacher

I am a football fan

I am a Steelers and WVU fan

I am a Christian

I am a member of the Church of God

I am a volunteer

I am a servant

I am a leader

I am called to Ministry

I am imperfect

I am a sinner

I am saved

I am searching

I am sarcastic

I am awkward

I am weird

I am kind

I am loving

I am funny...sometimes

I am a daughter

I am a sister

I am a niece

I am a granddaughter

I am emotional

I am empathetic

I am sympathetic

I am American

I am white...like ridiculously pasty

I am alive

I am sanctified

I am spirit-filled

I am born-again

I am the youngest sibling

I am my parent's only daughter

I am spoiled, though not a brat

I am loved

I am beautiful in the eyes of God

I am fearfully and wonderfully made

I am more than a conqueror

I am clothed in strength and dignity

I am snarky

I am slightly crazy (the good kind)

I am redeemed

I am set free

I am forgiven

I am chosen

I am a Princess

I am a daughter of the King of Kings

I am a nerd

I am a Doctor Who fan

I am a Star Wars fan

I am stubborn

I am opinionated at times

I am a procrastinator

I am an adult...well I try to be

I am vulnerable

I am strong with Christ

I am weak alone

I am a friend

I am single...for now

I am a reader

I am a movie collector

I am girly, about certain things

I am a writer

I am a poet

I am forgiving

I am unsure at times

I am a critical thinker

I am a driver..not professionally though

I am a passenger...sometimes

I am a shoe fanatic

I am a shopper...when I have money

I am a warrior

I am a graduate

I am a fighter

I am a prayer warrior

I am a counselor

I am a worker

I am humble

I am punny...I love a good pun

I am found in Christ

I am a U.S. citizen

I am allergic to citrus

I am a person with asthma

I am breakable

I am able to be mended

I am a dreamer

I am a sleep walker and talker

I am the farthest thing from athletic

I am sensitive

I am good at hiding my emotions

I am courageous

I am bold

I am loud sometimes

I am picky...especially with food

I am all of the above and more

I am more than one thing

I am Bethany

Above is a free verse poem about identity, more specifically my identity. So many times people identify themselves with one word, but in reality we are all so much more than that. A character on the show Nashville makes a comment about how people are very complex, walking around with "entire world's inside of them." This analogy hit me kind of deep. It reminded of how complex we all are; something we all so easily forget. It can be easy to think about the complexity of ourselves, but realizing that every individual is just as complex can be hard sometimes.

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I Am...

I am more than one thing.

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For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

27. When you get assigned the most incompetent group of people possible for a group project.

28. I need a comfort dog so I can avoid all life and school responsibilities.

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

Who isn't stressing out over finals right now?

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