THE GLAZED SELF

Every year, I have two birthday cakes. One is surrounded by family, with candles lit in their presence, and the other is celebrated with friends, with candles lit in their company.
I am like a piece of pottery, with my basic shape and sturdy exterior formed in my family environment. The love from my family added layers of glaze to me. The social environment further shaped me, turning me from pottery into glass. Glass as a material, while equally strong, is more transparent, open, and diverse.
With each year's two birthday cakes and the candles lit in different settings, I realize that I am an individual composed of different materials. Each time as the candles lit,  the celebration of my birthday and my beloved family and friends reshaped my identity.