Aquino 1

Alyssa Aquino
English 114B
Jennifer Rodrick
19 April 2016
Identity Crisis
Our identity today shows us how we give a perspective to our surroundings. I believe that
everyone has their own identity to build and prosper. Having an identity is like a building for
example, because as we grow up we build so many characteristics of ourselves however, if one
doesnt have strong (true) base, then the building will topple down. However, how would one
feel if they couldnt show their identity? Reading Everyday gives me an understanding about
identity. When it comes to gender, relationships, religion, class, or freedom, the book gives me a
gist about the character, A. A is portrayed as an introverted soul that has no experience when it
comes to identity. He hops to different bodies every day and falls in love with a girl, Rhiannon.
Rhiannon stands as the base of the building as his characteristics, morals, and knowledge are the
layers. During the duration of As journey, he learns about these people, making sure they take
good care of themselves. From Kelsea to Rhiannon, A has shown how his identity gave him more
characteristics. A does not have an identity, however, to an extent, he does form his identity with
the help of Rhiannon, which is why she is As base of the building. Through the use of his
experiences inside a person every day, A starts to create his identity by building up characteristics
such as his love interests, free will, being very caring, and commitment that represents as layers
of the building he is trying to build.
People see things the way society wants them to give a perspective on things. When it
comes to physical appearance, gender, or even class, there is only one way society sees it as a

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perfect way. A wakes up as a 300 lb boy and when he sees Rhiannon, she starts laughing. In a
way, that made A feel really confused as to why she was laughing. Rhiannon was laughing
because she didnt expect A to be like that. I dont think she even wanted to be out with A
because of the embarrassment that will happen. With A, he does not care if this person is fat or
skinny. He learns that every one has their own opinion on how the perceive things. He learns that
people have their own judgments and opinions to say about
every one no one has the same perspective on things. A
takes in consideration of Rhiannons reaction to think about
how he will have a perspective on things which has formed
him to be.
One day, A wakes up in Kelseas body, feeling really
uncomfortable from the moment A opens his eyes. Looking
around Kelseas surroundings in her room, A finds a diary
filled with pages about killing herself. Each page has a method of death and has her death date
noted. Usually, I wouldnt personally know what to do in this type of situation if I was A. Instead
of letting it happen, he prevents it to happen. A calls Rhiannon for help. A learns that it can be
concerned for other people, despite that A doesnt know this person at all. This causes A to be
sincerely helpful. For example, Kelsea has a bad relationship with her father. Her father sees
what he wants to see, and she doesnt want to dispel this fiction with fact (Levithan 127). With
the help of Rhiannon, A as Kelsea told her father that she is going through depression. From that
moment Kelseas father becomes extremely concerned and finally takes initiative to take care of
Kelsea. Although A was in Kelseas body for a day, A calls as Kelseas friend to see if she is
doing better. With this being said, A is sincerely caring and concerned. This forms his identity to

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be very alert with his surroundings, even if A doesnt know these people. A being helpful and
concerned as formed another layer of his building with the help of Rhiannon.
At some moment, A had to learn how to form his identity by himself. In a way, he leaves
Rhiannon to do so. He leaves her by giving her a time like she never experienced in a while. He
planned a special first last date with her to just enjoy the present. He passes on the body hes in
Alex to Rhiannon to make sure he will take care of her. Youll find things in him that you
find in me (Levithan 318). I believe this ties to As identity as a caring person because A
sincerely cares for Rhiannon that it wouldnt just drop her; it looks for alternative methods.

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In addition, A has no classification of its love interests. For example, when A has his
picnic with Rhiannon at the woods, they vent to each other about their past experiences about
love. A was a boy and Rhiannon started to question A about it.
According to the lgbtnation.com, they say, A reason why
people judge us is just ignorance. Some people really dont
know or are blissfully unaware of gays and lesbians in their life
(LGBTnation 20). Society does not know how to respond to
people coming out these days that their reactions could be seen
as an insult if taken the wrong way. However, A didnt care whether or not it was a boy. Does
that matter? (Levithan 157). To further support this, A was Austin a boy identifying himself as
gay and is As boyfriend. They decide to go to a gay pride parade. I have never fallen in love
with a gender. I have fallen for individuals (Levithan 142). Now this seriously forms As
identity because A does not give a care in the world with physical looks. A looks more into the
personality on the inside. A sees more of the person inside because A believes that is where the
truth in each person is located at. A learns to respect everyones decision with who theyre
interested in.
A is a soul. A portrays itself as an invisible soul. At times, A has some deep thoughts
about the person its in. For example, A wakes up as Marc and realizes that its the day of his
grandfathers funeral. During the ceremony, A cries, not just because its a mourning event, its
because of all the love he receiving from Marcs family. A has this sense of jealousy and envy
and realizes how invisible A is forever going to be. Seeing so many of Marcs family mourning
over his grandfather made A realize how A will never get that type of attention. No one would
ever even know when A would be gone. Like Rhiannon could slip away her memories she had

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with A if anything. I cry because I am so jealous of Marcs grandfather, because I am jealous
anyone who can make other people care so much (Levithan 268). Having access to Marcs
memories with his grandfather made A realize that as an invisible soul, A would feel alone as
well too. This connects back to how his identity has become formed through an extent; By the
way A feels alone at that moment explains that he wants to be loved. He wants to feel that
sympathy and connection others have with other people. But he cant because he is just a soul.
In addition, A has free will. In the book, love is the main focus of the book. A feels like
his obligation is to see Rhiannon. However, its
no obligation. According to Seth Schwartz, he
says, Our choices feel free dont they?
(Schwartz 4). A does not have to necessary see
Rhiannon but he chooses too because he loves
her. A is in a different body every day and
whether or not A is either 15 minutes, 4 hours, or
even 7 hours away from Rhiannon, he makes the choice to see her. I want to get back to her. I
want to get back to yesterday (Levithan 47). Forming his identity, A does try his best to reach
out to her. A chose to create this fake email to use as a perfect way to keep in touch with her. This
consists as another layer to his building because free will leads to determination as well as
commitment that represents as sub layers.
In conclusion, A has fully developed his own identity throughout the whole duration he
was with Rhiannon. Not only that, but the people A has been in bodies have has both made
positive and negative impact on A. Each individual in A gave it progression toward his identity.
A developed his identity with being caring and concerned with all his surroundings, being

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determined, having commitments, goals and dreams, yet A could feel alone. With the help of
Rhiannon, A does form his identity to an extent where Rhiannon has made a great impact on his
life. People may form their identity by themselves, however, we always need help from our
surroundings; which is why we are who we are. We dont know if we have more characteristics
inside of us, but its good to have someone bring those hidden characteristics out.

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Works Cited
Caifano, Amanda. Still Humanistic. N.d. (photo)
Chavez, Andrew. Equal Colors. 1998. N.p. (photo)
Gomez, Richard. "Why Do People Judge Gays and Lesbians?" Lgbtnation.com. N.p., 10 Dec.
2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <https://lgbtnation.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/why-do-peoplejudge-gays-and-lesbians/>.
Levithan, David. Every Day. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. Print.
Schwartz, Seth. "Do We Have Free Will?" Psychologytoday.com. N.p., 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 26
Apr. 2016. <https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/proceed-your-own-risk/201311/dowe-have-free-will>.
Johnson, Abigail. Free Will. N.d. N.p. (photo)