If you did not know about your past, would you know what kind of person you are?

Well, if I knew nothing about my past, I really doubt that I'd know personality or who I am as a human being. I'm sure that there may be some instinctive qualities still left but you wouldn't know your hobbies or your personality in general. I know of a saying that tells you that "Your past does not define you". I agree and disagree with that statement. My reasoning is that in your past, you may have made mistakes. I don't know about you but I do try to learn from my mistakes; this constructs my morals and tends to make me a better human in general. But if you don't have those mistakes or lessons to guide you, I think you'd be a little clueless. You'd basically have to go back to square one and start all over again. 
Once you think about it, some people would like to start again with a clean slate, nothing that can define them. It may just be an opportunity to turn their wrongs into rights and allow themselves to possibly lead better lives. It's a chance to redeem themselves which is an offer that a few people would not want to miss. Who knows? It may transform them for the better.