Socsci Paper
Agents of Socialization and My Life
Sociology 101 July 3, 2008
At nineteen years old, it is difficult to believe that I have had nearly two decades worth of experiences. Although it has been a bumpy ride with many ups and downs along this journey, I am who I am today directly as a result of those experiences and how I dealt with them. My family, school, dance classes, and peers have all had a hand at shaping the confident, bright, and enthusiastic college student that I have come to be. Immigrating to the United States of America from Armenia in 1988, my family has been one of the most influential agents of socialization in my life, greatly impacting how I perceive myself, the world, and the situations I find myself in on a daily basis. Shortly after my parents, older sister, grandparents, aunts, and cousins (totaling nine people) settled down in a twobedroom, one-bathroom unit house in Glendale, I was born. From what I am told, we lived in the small house, crammed with 10 people for a few months. Eventually, everyone except my mother, father, older sister and me found other homes and moved out. Two years after I was born, my younger sister was born and my family, as I know it, came to exist. My family, more specifically, my mom and dad, are responsible for what I learned during the early stages of my life. Although they tried to assimilate into American society, my parents undoubtedly also wanted me to be aware of my Armenian-American subculture. Since people can only teach what they already know, it is not surprising that my parents taught me first the Armenian language, as well as the values and beliefs common in the Armenian culture. I also learned the norms, both prescriptive and proscriptive, that my family accepts and follows and I continue to adhere to them today. Also, my parents passed on to me simple mores that have helped me learn to distinguish between what is right and wrong, ethical and immoral. Furthermore, my family has influenced me
Sociology 101 July 3, 2008
At nineteen years old, it is difficult to believe that I have had nearly two decades worth of experiences. Although it has been a bumpy ride with many ups and downs along this journey, I am who I am today directly as a result of those experiences and how I dealt with them. My family, school, dance classes, and peers have all had a hand at shaping the confident, bright, and enthusiastic college student that I have come to be. Immigrating to the United States of America from Armenia in 1988, my family has been one of the most influential agents of socialization in my life, greatly impacting how I perceive myself, the world, and the situations I find myself in on a daily basis. Shortly after my parents, older sister, grandparents, aunts, and cousins (totaling nine people) settled down in a twobedroom, one-bathroom unit house in Glendale, I was born. From what I am told, we lived in the small house, crammed with 10 people for a few months. Eventually, everyone except my mother, father, older sister and me found other homes and moved out. Two years after I was born, my younger sister was born and my family, as I know it, came to exist. My family, more specifically, my mom and dad, are responsible for what I learned during the early stages of my life. Although they tried to assimilate into American society, my parents undoubtedly also wanted me to be aware of my Armenian-American subculture. Since people can only teach what they already know, it is not surprising that my parents taught me first the Armenian language, as well as the values and beliefs common in the Armenian culture. I also learned the norms, both prescriptive and proscriptive, that my family accepts and follows and I continue to adhere to them today. Also, my parents passed on to me simple mores that have helped me learn to distinguish between what is right and wrong, ethical and immoral. Furthermore, my family has influenced me