Which Comes First:

Why is a sense of belonging essential to forming an identity? As a Chinese-Jamaican immigrant, learning to navigate and fit into society was vital in understanding identity. Looking deeper into our sense of belonging allows us to bridge the gap between “self” and “society.” It is possible to outgrow these very spaces, roles, and identities we once had as we grow and change over the lifespan. Our sense of belonging may challenge or highlight who we are, how we operate in social structures, and the spaces we occupy—all within the lens of our perception of self, material contexts, and personal experiences. This leads me to my question, “Which Comes First: Understanding who we are or where we belong?” Research on identity development fails to recognize the complexity of a whole person. To answer this question, I set out on a creative process that starts with researching primary documents, sketching out ideas, prototyping, and receiving weekly feedback from mentors and peers. The methodology began with pressing several types of clay into a mold that represents multiple identity categories. The next step was collecting material objects that offer further exploration of belonging through sensory connections. I learned that identity development is not mutually exclusive from a sense of belonging on this creative journey. Identity development and a sense of belonging are integrative processes that account for relationships between self, society, and material contexts.