Section Article

AN EXAMINATION OF STUDENTS’ CONCEPTIONS OF THEIR OWN IDENTITY AT POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
Author(s): Dr. Ragini Mishra

Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding how students conceptualize their own identity in postsecondary institutions is essential for analyzing the social emotional academic and cultural development that occurs within higher education environments. Identity at the college or university level is a complex evolving and multidimensional construct shaped by personal histories socio-cultural influences institutional structures peer networks academic experiences and broader social contexts. Postsecondary institutions serve as transformative spaces where students transition from adolescence to adulthood negotiate new social roles encounter diverse worldviews and reflect critically on their sense of self. This paper examines how students develop interpret and express their own identities during their academic journeys and argues that identity formation is deeply influenced by interactional cultural psychological and institutional dynamics. The research explores how social belonging academic self-concept cultural background peer relationships digital environments and institutional climate intersect to shape self-understanding. Drawing upon interdisciplinary literature published up to 2018 including theories from psychology sociology education and cultural studies the study analyzes how identity formation is negotiated through dialogue social comparison cultural positioning and structural influences. The findings emphasize that identity development in postsecondary spaces is neither fixed nor linear but a fluid process involving exploration affirmation conflict adaptation and self-definition. Ultimately the study concludes that understanding students’ conceptions of their identity is essential for fostering inclusive learning environments improving student well-being enhancing retention and supporting equitable educational outcomes.