Who's To Blame?

Finding Balance in Nature, Nurture, and Self

Lately, I've been wrestling with a thought that seems to creep into conversations, social media, and even my own mind more often than not. It's about the ease with which people, myself included, tend to blame our surroundings for our actions or the outcomes we face. For instance, it's not uncommon to hear, "I failed this test because the teacher didn't explain the material well” or "She's only respectful because that's how she was raised." This habit of pointing fingers at our environment or upbringing raises a crucial question: if environmental factors are so influential in shaping who we are, why isn't everyone the same, especially when subjected to similar conditions?

As a 16-year-old high school student who has yet to earn any fancy degrees, I'm well aware that philosophers, psychologists, and sociologists have been dissecting this issue for ages, probably arriving at insights far beyond my current understanding. Yet, I believe there's value in exploring these questions from my perspective, learning and perhaps offering a fresh take along the way.

Adding in the old debate nature vs nurture, subjects that both environmental factors and genetic complexion are important in shaping our beliefs, behaviors and personalities however the extent of which outweighs the other still remain unknown, By blaming external factors for our failures or attributing our successes solely to our upbringing, are we undermining the power of personal agency and choice?

If we were merely products of our environment, individuals from identical backgrounds would lead remarkably similar lives. Yet, siblings raised in the same household often go on drastically different paths. This suggests that while our environment influences us, it doesn't control every outcome. Something one of my friends suggested stuck to my mind: each and everyone of us seem to have a unique inner spark the differentiate us and make us unique that had nothing to do with our upbringing nor or genetic complection, I'm anticipating my friend's further exploration of this concept, as it makes me to consider the depth of human identity. After giving it some thought, I find myself leaning towards agreement, although I'm aware that this perspective might not show the full complexity of what shapes us as individuals.

While it's naïve to dismiss the profound impact our environment and upbringing have on us, it's equally short-sighted to overlook the power of personal accountability and choice. Perhaps the key lies in finding a balance, acknowledging the role of external influences while not allowing them to become excuses for our actions. I'm still learning to appreciate the complexity of this balance, learning how to take responsibility for my actions.

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I would like to give a big thank you to my friend for constantly nagging me and encouraging me to write and publish this before it became ancient history in my drafts folder and for providing me with feedback as well, make sure to check her page.