Such a large percentage of our millennial generation suffers from anxiety or depression from a very young age due to the fact that we are forced to determine and create our own brand before we even know who we are or who we want to be. Youth is a time to make mistakes, discover likes and dislikes, and develop character that guides our behaviors to create the best environment for our lives to reach our potential and leave a positive impact on this world. In a world where everyone is on constant display, we feel pressured to already be someone so we model our brand off someone else rather than our own experiences. 

We are all very aware of our existence and our fears because we question our minds so often, begging them to give us answers on where we are supposed to be and what we are supposed to be doing. I, personally, changed my mind about the person I wanted to be. I hit what felt like identity rock bottom. I meditated and tried a million other things to change my perspective, and it only started to work when I started looking for things that intrinsically made me happy and ways that I can use my talents and skills to benefit society. I changed my major to pursue art and business. The thing about  changing what you have already declared your self is that it is scary and it takes self-assurance and time. Reputations can follow you and rebranding isn't easy, but neither is living someone else's narrative. I am still not sure what I want to do, and I often feel like I am behind and don’t deserve the carefree moments that make up college, but the fact that this life is my own is calming. 

Becoming who you are can feel like a race between you and all of your friends and peers, so I think it is important to remind ourselves that we have time. We will get where we're going. If we approach each day and opportunity with optimism and good intentions, we will find exactly where we're meant to be. You can never feel genuine, whole and happy if you live a life that someone else wrote.