Groundswell Winter 2014 Winter 2014 | Page 21

The Reborn Identity Four Antioch University graduates discover their authentic selves. What defines your identity? What makes you you? Does society get to decide who you are based on your name, gender, religion, or upbringing? What happens when elements change? What can we learn when someone’s identity is reborn? In our cover story, we explore these questions by examining the personal awakenings of four extraordinary graduates of Antioch University. Each journey is unique, just as every identity is unique. Yet they’re all propelled by the same idea: we ultimately have the power to shape our own identities through our decisions. How do people react when someone converts to an unfamiliar religion? How might a natural disaster help inspire someone to change her life? Can someone who spent years battling demons turn his life around and help others? Where’s the space for someone whose gender transcends the typical definitions of “male” and “female”? These stories reflect not only the diversity of human experience, but also the wide range of individuals who choose to learn at Antioch University. After all, for many of us, being part of the Antioch University family is a large part of our identity. It’s what makes us us. GROUNDSWELL.ANTIOCHLA.EDU | J0953_GroundswellR.indd 19 19 12/18/13 11:19 AM