write a response to a peer : Building Bridges: Connecting Across Communities Who are you? Think about at least three roles you play in your life and how these roles are influenced by your culture. (e.g., roles I could choose from are teacher, parent, cook, lover of books, etc.). How can understanding your own culture impact reducing cross-cultural barriers among students? In my lifetime I will play many roles, some I have yet to play and some I no longer play. As of right now the primary three roles that I play are, student, son, and boyfriend. Surprisingly these three roles have some similarities, the main of which is independence. My parents raised me to become strong but caring. They raised me to care for others while developing a strong sense of independence, that I should do well enough for myself that I can take care of others. As a boyfriend it is my duty to do well by myself so that I can take care of my girlfriend, that I can protect and serve her so that we may build a better life together. As a student it is my task to do well by myself by putting in the effort to do well in school so that I may be a better educated individual, and so that I can pursue a job that is able to afford a life for myself and those who I take care of as well as do something that I actually would like to do. All three focus on the common goal of myself and I truly believe that this stems from the American cultural trait of individualism. Americans are so busy doing well by themselves that