Personal Narrative: What It Means To Be Human

In this famous quote by Mark Twain, he discusses how he views the importance of finding ones meaning in life, and what it means to them to be a human. To many people, being human is about being free, or just being kind. To fully be human one must not only show one single trait but many traits. There are many texts and lectures that have influenced what it means to me to be human. Texts such as Machinal by Sophie Treadwell and speakers like Chris Baker of Ink 180 have shown me what it truly means to be human. By comparing and contrasting earlier ideas of the course to Ink 180 and Machinal, my own and other people’s meaning of humanity can be shaped to see that equality, compassion and freedom, together are what makes us fully human. Past texts have revealed that individually compassion, equality or freedom truly make us human, however, we must combine all of these things to fully get a grip on what it is to be human. The text titled …show more content…
At the beginning of this class, I saw kindness as the key thing that makes us human. I value kindness because as a child I was made fun of a lot for the way I talk and who I am. When I was younger, I always saw those who were unkind as somewhat less than human. Today I realize that kindness; equality and freedom are all the things that make me human. Because I am gay, I know I will always be treated different because of it. I value equality because even though I am gay, it is only one small thing about me. I hope that one day everyone will be treated equally. Baker has shown me that small things about people, their tattoos may be a symbol to something about them or in their past, but they are so much more than that small aspect. Freedom has also always been an important factor to what makes me human. Ink 180 and Machinal have shown me that when someone is forced to not be free, they are made less than