How do you become who you become?This is something especially important when we are teenagers as our identities are being formed. A person shouldn’t let others determine who they are. Of course, it is good to be influenced in a good way so we become better people. But let’s look at what negative stuff can do to you. If someone is slow or really blur and irritates you, instead of making “tsk tsk” noises and flaring up at the person, because you want to be/are a patient person, you… be patient. Just because someone makes you angry, doesn’t mean you have to burst out in anger. You could let off steam in another way, not at that person, and well, people will see that you’re a person who is in control of his/her emotions.

Mature people are able to control their emotions. Of course I’m not saying that you can't cry when a loved one dies. That’s another thing.

Back to being who you are, becoming who you want to be. You need to ask what you want to be known for. See, habit is the daily battleground of character. Aristotle says, “We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by the exercise of self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage…”

Character is built daily. Do you want to be known as patient? Then be patient in the little things here and there, and people will see you as patient. Same with all others. Loving? Gracious? Compassionate? Kind? Make a habit of doing things which display those characteristics, and soon, you’ll be known as a person with those qualities.

A lot of people let others determine who they are. Even in the area of outward appearance. So sometimes we take what people say, and let it affect us. What they say determines how we feel. If we get put down by someone, we feel miserable for the rest of the week. Ah. That’s not good, right? You should let YOU decide who YOU are. When you stop looking to others for validation, your confidence will grow. We all have our insecurities; don’t let that get you. But if someone who cares for you tells you something about yourself, don’t shrug it away and ignore it. Do think about it to see if it’s true or not, so that if it is, you can change for the better.

Know that you are beautiful, and there are so many good points about you. There’s only one of you— and that’s really special. No one is exactly like you. I used to be really self-conscious back in secondary school. I also didn’t like it that I generally didn’t do well in my studies. But hey, I learnt to see what was good about myself. Like, I can play the piano well and I use that to play in a band, that I can design so I use that at work and to help my friends with little design projects here and there. Pick out the good points and focus on those things. I did. And I’m a more confident person now.

Who am I? You ask.