I’m a teenager applying to various colleges later this year, and during this process, I’ve had to curate an identity that I could present to these colleges. Thus began my journey of self-improvement—both physically and mentally. I wanted, and still want, to become the best version of myself so that when I apply to these colleges, I feel the utmost confidence in who I am.However, while on this journey to developing a true sense of confidence and identity, most teenagers and adults alike hit one major roadblock on the path to success: a lack of honesty. Many don’t get started because they refuse to accept either their current standing in life or how much they must do to achieve their goals.I’m here to teach those people exactly that.You don’t start with your looks, you start from within. You start with honesty. Hello everyone! My name is Yibela Gebretsadik. I am a rising senior aspiring to study International Relations at a four-year university during the fall next year. When not drowning in my studies, I participate in various extracurricular activities both outside and inside of school! My favorite thing to do is getting to know others from diverse backgrounds. And that’s where I found my love for public speaking - through representing these various communities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx