By Jill R. Gough
Hodgdon High School
Class of 2017
Finding your cultural identity is one of the hardest tasks to achieve. The term culture has multiple definitions, but the one that fits best is; the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time. When I think of my own cultural identity I think of multiple things. I have dual citizenship in America and Canada, all my life I have grown up on a potato farm, and I have been born and raised in the state of Maine.
My mother was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada and lived there until she married my father. My dad on the other hand has lived in the town of Houlton, Maine, his entire life. Since my mother is Canadian it means my brother and I have had the privilege of spending many summers in Canada that entailed spending time with our loud and hilarious Canadian family. It has also given us the privilege of being a dual citizen. Two years ago, we filled out the paperwork, and now we are citizens of not only The United States of America, but also of Canada. Now, Drew (my brother) and I can live, go to college, and come and go as we please in both countries.
My dad is a third generation potato farmer. This means that my family’s life basically revolves around potatoes. Growing up on the farm has taught me many things. It has taught me work ethic, how to drive a tractor, and how to get really dirty. My whole life I have had to do different things that most people would probably never have to do. This would include picking rocks, working on a harvester, and running an x-ray machine in the packing shed. It has also made me a true farmer’s daughter, and is a big part of my family’s culture.
Growing up in Maine probably is the biggest part of my cultural identity. First, it means heaps of snow in the winter. That means snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snowmen making all winter long. It also means power outages, snow days, and “literally” being snowed in. Second, it means swarms of black flies and mosquitoes in the summer. You may think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. It’s to the point where within stepping outside in the beginning of July you will automatically have 20 bug bites. Lastly, living in Maine means a beautiful Fall. I’m not just being biased because Fall is my favorite season, but because it truly is breathtaking. The leaves are always the perfect shades of red, yellow, and orange, and the crispness in the air makes you feel like curling up in a blanket and reading a good book. Fall also means soccer, which is my favorite sport, and potato harvest. Those are just some of the things that show how Maine is a big part of my cultural identity.
To conclude, I have few things that shape my cultural identity, all of which I am thankful that have been, and still are a big part of my life. The three things that mainly describe my cultural identity are that I have dual citizenship in the countries of The United States of America and Canada, I have grown up on a potato farm, and I have been born and raised in the State of Maine. Now I can continue to learn and shape my cultural identity, and hopefully I will create some new stories along the way.
