Stockton:  Both good questions, right?  When someone asks you this, a lot of people get stumped.  We stop and we think, wow, I never really thought about this before.  We think we know who we are until someone asks us.  Or maybe you don’t know who you are.  When I say this, I don’t just mean your gender, your favorite color, or what grade you’re in.  These things are part of who you are, but they aren’t who you are.  Who you are includes your characteristics, your ethnicity, your drive, and what you’re passionate about.  It’s if you finish that last problem or rep or if you call it quits because you’re so tired and you’re just done.  It’s whether you push yourself to get those good grades because you know how much it will pay off in the future.  

You may not know who you are yet and that’s totally fine.  You have your whole life to figure that out.  Although in high school if you don’t at least know part of who you are it’s tough.  It’s tough because people will think they know who you are before you even know yourself.  They will think so many opinions of you may be hurtful, maybe positive.  Either way, those opinions are rumors. They mean nothing in the real world.  But what does mean something in the real world is you.  It’s you knowing what you believe, what you’re passionate about, and what you do when no one is looking.  As long as you know who you are, no one can touch you.   No one can even get on your level.  There’s no rush, but there’s also no time to lose yourself.  There’s no time to let those grades slip or not go to the dances.  These grades, yourself, and those few real friends, this is your present, and this is what you need to focus on.  Who you are isn’t just things that describe you, it’s your actions and your mindset.    Don’t let people decide for you, find your passions and dreams no matter how long it takes. Be your own Trojan and create your own legacy.