• I am...
• Trauma
• Surreal
• Walking Proud

• Unite!
• Still Alone
• Dolls
• End of the World

• poker face
• HOPE or PAIN
• Moments
• CAROLS
• Voyage

• Real Me
• Notes, etc
• Site

I am...

All of twenty, Tifa Lockheart is an ambitious woman with a big heart. Such a loving nature combined with her powerful body and spirit make her a force that is not to be taken lightly. She is a woman of her word, and she will follow through as her conscious insists--with her fists, if necessary.

With a genuine love for life and her companions, Tifa is willing to make sacrifices to see those she cares for flash even the smallest of smiles. When a friend is doubting his purpose or worrying of far off loved ones, Tifa does her best to assert her assurances and affections. She wants to mother everyone, to make them feel warm and at home. However, despite her good intentions, the debauched mega-metropolis she calls home has made the line between good and evil difficult to discern, and not even Tifa Lockheart is immune to moments of jaded self-doubt.

Try as she might, Tifa is not perfect. As her world is turned upside down by the catastrophic events presented on her journey, she begins to question her own judgment. Does she tell her childhood friend he is living a dream, or does she study from afar and let him uncover the truth for himself? Is this treacherous trek even worth taking?

Tifa finds herself circling such issues, reluctant to take a stance. Being the level-headed woman that she is, Tifa has the perception to understand when something is wrong and to realize when an issue should be handled with great care. It is this foresight, however, that accounts for her own insecurities and constant dread of making the wrong choice. Although she can identify a problem, she is not always certain how to solve it.

Even the strongest of wills needs words of reassurance in a moment of weakness. Tifa has taken it upon herself to be that voice and to rally support for her friends. When Red XIII begins to worry that he too will become a mindless puppet of Jenova, Tifa encourages him to "be strong", but what of her own dark hours?

Tifa's astounding ability to grin and bear it earns her silent respect and appreciation from her teammates, but she can only smile for so long. In such a confusing and bleak time as the struggle for humanity, Tifa is just as much in the dark as her other companions when it comes to the powers at work above their heads. Although she does her best to keep spirits high with her insistence to "be strong", she has her own doubts and fears about her mission.

In the midst of the madness, Tifa is able to reflect on her priorities. She realizes that the cause she is fighting for goes beyond the unjust treatment of the lower class; it is a fight for the Planet's survival. Being a woman of such passion, she decides that this battle will be a personal one; it is a battle for her friends and loved ones. By making such an important assertion of judgment, Tifa proves that she's not just a pretty face. Tifa Lockheart is a woman strength and compassion who will always do her best to pull through in the end.

Inspired by Ayumi Hamasaki's "I am... " (I am... ); popular unofficial translation courtesy of Divine Ayu.