In class writing - Communities

To what extent do the social networks we belong to shape our social identity?

My network of people include individuals with goals, likes, and extracurricular activities that are similar to mine, but it also includes people that I feel I can learn from, and mentor. There are some who see me as this outgoing, direct, and social being, while there are others who view me as someone who is ALL business, no tolerance for disobeying policy, and a hardworker.
The above is due in part to the persona I display when I am in the surroundings of certain people. I've learned to adjust the view I give to others partly because, being a manager, there are attitudes that I can and cannot put upon my staff, and there are people who are not around me in that capacity, that are open to what I call my true demeanor.
I can relate to the life of the Amish from the reading of Hostetler, The Amish Chapter, to the way I structure my work environment. There is a dress code that has to be followed. We have privacy issues, therefore, anything that is going on within the company is forbidden to be discussed with others. Also, disobedience or failure to follow policy can result in corrective measures, which include termination from the company (excommunication).
These are things that I enforce, and must adhere to, seeing as I need to lead by example and this policies also apply to me.
Whereas, my social environment is where I get to vent all my woes of the world, without the repercussions that I have lingering over my head for 50 hours a week. I'm in the surroundings of people who chose to spend their time with me, oppose to those, who do it for a paycheck.
I am a social being by nature. I love interacting with others, which helps me in my current job as a manager. Yet, communicating online is not really my cup of tea. I enjoy face-to-face interaction, because I have no issues with being straightforward, and it bothers me when I cannot see the facial expression and body language of who I'm addressing.
I like for people to see me for who I am, so that there is no time wasted by pretending to fit into this alternate reality where I have to remember what personality to bring to the table.
We lose so much time trying to fit into what will make us accepted by others that we forget and disregard the things that are truly important to us.
I am sure that my network of friends and associates are not always in agreement with what I may say or do, but they respect my decisions to do and say them.
In order to keep my job and advance in the company, I have responsibilities that I have to complete, and rules that I have to abide by. This shapes my identity to my coworkers, my direct reports, and my bosses.
In the rest of my world, I have more of a say of what view of me I want to give to others. Not everyone is as understanding as the people I choose to call and hang out with, but like I said before, no time is wasted in that alternate reality.