Heya! I’m Jinay Patel. I hail from McAlester, Oklahoma, and I’m a freshman at OU during the Fall 2022 Semester! I’m actually from India, but my parents moved to the United States when I was little. I grew up here in the States, and I have made myself comfortable here! Another thing about me is that I really like to play video games, I draw digital art, and I occassionally watch anime (hyped for a few anime getting new seasons in the fall!).
As for my generational identity, I do feel it strongest when I hang out with other people of my generation. I usually resonate with people that are up to speed on internet culture, and I find myself to be more mature than I lead on. The definition of “internet culture,” in my own words, would mean being involved with memes, chatting on social media platforms (like Discord, I mainly talk to people on there), and generally staying up to date with the state of the online world. Those are some basic elements that boil it down. I find the younger generational group (typically from teens to young adults) significant, because I tend to relate more with them. A key factor to belonging is the fact that I come from a foreign household, so I can’t really share my love of video games, memes, or anything else with my parents. I find it easier to talk to younger people about such things. I have grown up on the internet myself, take that as you will, and I have learned developed most of my fundamental values and early maturity from my years talking to people online. However, that doesn’t mean I’m very salty or toxic, but rather, I try my best to keep my relationships healthy and do good wherever I can. I find it important that I can relate with people my own age, as it helps reassure me that I’m not alone in my own interests or struggles. That’s my general stance on my generational identity. I hope to have a wonderful time learning with and getting to know you all, as well!