Socialization

Family has without doubt been the most prevalent agent of socialization throughout the course of my life. Media and religion often broadcast messages with which they may influence the broadest demographic and thereby play a much more minimized role. Family, however, remains with an individual despite difficulties and change. My family has taught me many of the characteristics which I consider core to my ideals, they have taught me morality and ethics as well proper life goals. My peers and local environment plays the second most role in socialization as it is what I interact with most outside of family. I believe I have made excellent friends over the years with whom I may share many similar ideals and approaches to life. This has been a positive social influence. Media and religion has played a smaller role in my socialization as media is an entity with which I dissect with the greatest skepticism; religion has played a greater role than media, however, given that my family is not very religious it has not been critical to my development.

Family

A. Before I was born, my parents stated they wanted me to acquire many of their positive traits and wished for me to be intelligent as well as determined.
B. My parents have put in significant effort to pass on their own traits of hardwork and diligence to me; they always stressed the importance of having set goals throughout life and to strive to reach those goals despite any possible obstacles.
C. To my parents they find it very important that I carry and pass on my own cultural heritage. They stress that I should never disregard my native language and blend aspects of both American and Ukrainian culture in my life.
D. My parents say they rarely had struggles to discipline me. As a child, however, I apparently blurted out thoughts to my heart's delight and they had to tell me what specific things were and were not acceptable to say out loud, they say that period of obliviousness was often the source of much comical relief.
E. My mother says I have taken on my father's humor and his somewhat immature personality, to which I have no real objections. They also say I have taken on their trait to prioritize goals well and also the motivation required to reach to reach them.

2. None of these answers surprised me to any particular extent as I have had these sorts of conversations with my family multiple times before. I found the many stories my parents told of me as a child to be quite comical, for example my parents said when they bought me my first suit in first grade, I wore it everywhere we went for 3 weeks straight. I have learned that through the many struggles my parents have faced, humor and family affection are often the best coping mechanisms. They say that while I should always be prioritized and have goals in sight, I should always enjoys the pleasures of the present and not be burdened by the stresses of the future.