This week I have been working with Grade 6. We have taken a look at identity. We did this through the use of ID cards, at which point I was able to reveal my passport with a very old photo much to their amusement. We then were able to practise the days, months and how to write our dates of birth while making our own ID cards.

When we take a look at identity, there are the things that are used to formally identify us. We have our name, date of birth, place of birth, country, gender, signature and our government given number. All of this can show on a piece of paper who we are. But aside from that we get to choose for ourselves where our identity is found.

Is your identity found in people? Is it what people say about you that defines you - is that what matters to you? Or maybe for some people, their identity may be found in their jobs - they can become the role. Someone could say "I am a teacher, that is who I am and that is my identity." Or maybe "I am a policeman and that is who I am, that is my identity." But maybe it is not just jobs, maybe it is roles that we play "I am a father, that is who I am, that is my identity." Or "I am a mother, that is who I am, that is my identity."

I don't know about you, but I like to think that my identity goes beyond even that. For me my identity is not being from my country, although I love my country. It is not from what people can say about me or what they may think. It is not from my role as a teacher, sister, friend, although I love those roles. For me, my identity is who I know that I am deep within my soul, it is that inner knowledge of my character, likes and dislikes and the person that I was created to be. The person that I am becoming and that I know that I will be and the person that I was and who has been changing over the years.

One of the things that I have been doing with the older students over the past few weeks at the beginning of the lessons is having them repeat words after me to speak words over themselves - because words are so important. We say things such as "I am clever. I am smart. I am strong. I am special. I am precious. I am beautiful. I can do anything. I can be anything. I am loved." All of these words speak affirmation over these students' identities - showing them that they are enough just as they are - that their identity is a precious thing that they can speak positivity over. I do this with them so that if there ever is a day when they don't feel clever or smart or precious or loved - that they will remember those truths that they spoke over themselves in class and they would be able to remember their true identity, somebody who is precious and so loved.