“I just want to be someone, mean something to everyone, I want to be the real ME”, by Charlotte Eriksson. The quest of my journey is to discover my true purpose, my true goal but most importantly, to find my true identity. This is known as the “Identity-Role Confusion Phase” or as described by psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson, the fifth stage of the Eight Stages of Man. It occurs between the ages of 12 and 18, when each person struggles to establish a certain role or skill that provides a sense of a solid foundation in adult society. I too am currently going through this phase of life, dodging many obstacles to search for my identity. Toughest obstacle: My attempt to fit in with my peers, but the extremes I went to to find it, may have scared me for life. However, it showed me a piece of my true identity and helped me understand how to grow and improve myself; showed me the real me. In yesterday's society as well as today, individuality is vital. Every teenager wants to create a unique identity for themselves, and the beginning of creating that identity is in high school. Like any normal teenager, I was nervous about the first day, mainly because my best friend had transferred to another school. I thought I wouldn't be able to make friends, and that's what happened. I have never been fully able to “fit in”. My hair was never long enough; my body was never skinny enough, I was like a puzzle that never fit. But not only did I have to fit in with my peers, I also had to fit in at home in what I considered the perfect family. My father and mother were successful business moguls, my two sisters were very popular and always maintained a perfect grade and then there was me, struggling to even get a B+ in class... halfway through the paper.. I also solved it. Afterwards, I realized that the only reason I resorted to drinking was because I wasn't satisfied with myself. I have always compared myself to others and quickly found flaws within myself. I couldn't understand that every person has flaws, but recognizing those flaws and learning from your mistakes is what creates someone's identity. From that day on, I started to accept myself for who I am, others noticed it too, and in particular I didn't. I didn't have to alter my identity to try to fit in, I did it automatically. Trying to create an identity for yourself shouldn't mean harming yourself in the process; it should only make you stronger. I'm not worried that I don't have my whole identity figured out. As I get older, I'm sure the whole concept of who I truly am will take shape, but for now I am Shikha Balani, confident, strong and proud of what has become my identity.