Identity Found

Grace Cardenas came to Worthington Christian as a 7th grader. Cardenas was born in Europe and has found herself living in England, Germany, and Switzerland. She can speak German, Spanish, Swiss dialect, and English. Her experiences and background look very different from most people at Worthington Christian. Although this past has allowed Cardenas to become open-minded to different peoples and cultures, it presents an identity crisis. 

 The introduction to America was a major change for Cardenas. Once her mother decided to move their family to Ohio, Cardenas didn’t know what to expect. After she arrived in America and started attending Worthington Christian, Cardenas experienced a heavy culture shock. On top of increased difficulty in academics due to the new language, her social life seemed to be a challenge. Cardenas felt isolated and alone within a new culture and community. “Sometimes I found myself excluded,” Cardenas reflected, “but I eventually managed to find a friend group that fit me and my culture.” 

A Christian school was a new environment for Cardenas. At first, her belief wavered. “It took me a while to figure out if I really did believe that Christ is my savior. In the end, Worthington Christian led me to believe that Jesus is the way. My faith has grown stronger ever since.” At first, Worthington Christian was a foreign place to Cardenas. In the end, however, she became comfortable within her identity and found herself walking with Jesus. 

Cardenas had some valuable advice to share with the underclassman of Worthington Christian. “Don’t change for anyone”, Cardenas stressed, “In the end, people will look up and admire that you are different, and you are true to yourself.” High school is a tough time to find one’s identity. From cultural influences to peer pressure, kids can find themselves changing into someone they are not. Cardenas struggled with finding her identity at the start. However, Christ and her peers gave her the confidence she needed, allowing her to be the person she is today. Cardenas plans to attend Ohio State Newark, majoring in physiology, which is the study of how the human body works.

~ Tommy Anthony