the young teacher's 'self-identification' [='identification'] with his students
He needed to show (his) 'identification' before they would cash the check.
They had/felt a (strong) sense of 'identification with' their neighbors.
(..) so we're done. Bye, Nicholas. Things have happened and it's important that... Shh, shh, shh! No money, no identification, no passport. What happened to you? Where to begin... It's complicated. It always is. (..)1997 The Game