Know Who You Are Before the World Decides For You

There’s a weird pressure during the teen years to already be someone. Teachers ask what you want to be. Relatives ask about your grades. Coaches ask about your commitment. And your phone feeds you images of guys who seem to have a clear identity — the athlete, the artist, the entrepreneur — and you’re sitting there wondering if you missed the memo. Here’s something worth holding onto: most guys your age are performing an identity, not living one. The guy who seems most confident is often the most anxious about being found out. Knowing this doesn’t fix everything, but it does change how you see the room.