What Makes you, You?

“Describe yourself in a few words.” This question would haunt me; every interview, every introduction, every new place. This is the common question that arises no matter where you go, yet somehow, I never have the answer that feels right to me. Sometimes I say that I enjoy reading and sometimes I mention my nails business, but I never feel that I can ever fully encapsulate what I feel truly describes me.

I always thought to list out my achievements or basic descriptions: my research paper, my newly founded project, my nails business, my grades. I would also mention a couple descriptive words, telling the person that my friends would say I’m a kind, respecting, and dependable person. No matter what I tried and how I worded it, it still never felt like I was answering the question.

What I’ve come to realize is that that question doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it seems. I just needed to take a step back and think about who I feel I am. I am someone with a group of friends that care about me, a large family that adores me, I have many hobbies that I pursue, but I also have many accomplishments that define me. These aren’t the only things, though. There are good and bad sides to me that characterize who I am, and that’s the most important thing that I’ve learned from a question that used to seem so daunting.