The term "teenager" often feels like a costume I’m trying on—sometimes it fits, and other times it’s itchy and restrictive. Society loves to bundle us into neat categories: the overachiever, the rebel, the digital native. But underneath those labels is a more complicated reality of trying to figure out who I am when everyone else seems to have already decided for me.

Drafting a "shitty first draft" (often abbreviated in writing circles as SFD) is a common Anne Lamott-inspired strategy that helps writers overcome the paralysis of the blank page by prioritizing raw output over quality. For a teenager looking to explore their identity, this process allows for an unpolished, authentic exploration of self-image, societal labels, and the transition into adulthood. Draft Essay: Navigating the In-Between

Growing up today means living in a constant state of being perceived. Whether it's the pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standards curated on social media or the weight of academic expectations, it's easy to feel like a "product" in development rather than a person. We are often judged by our highlight reels, while our "shitty first drafts"—the mistakes, the awkward phases, and the genuine confusion—are hidden away. Shitty First Drafts