How have you changed as you've aged?

[peterpiper]

Hoo boy. This might be interesting. Forgive me if this sounds like I'm pouring out my soul.
During years 7-9 I remained the annoying boastful pipsqueak who was really unapproachable because he thought the norm was to be smart. Year 10-11 I finally realised that that view was a complete mistake, as it prevented me from getting anywhere with most people, but instead of changing it, I moved into a very isolated state. Mind you, I was isolated before, but this time it was a sad isolated, feeling like I was unable to really connect to anyone.
Now I still share the views I had, but I've tried to change. The annoying boastful pipsqueak is gone, replaced by the wisecracking cynic, but still a more friendly and approachable person. In addition, I have learnt that I am good as a mediator, and at giving moral support and advice to others. I still have had trouble connecting to others in my school, because of how I view my first impressions, but with new people (whom I often refer to as 'clean slates', for the reasons above), I can really forge a good relationship.
Most importantly, over the past two years, I've started talking to this kid who is currently in Year 8. He was like the annoying boastful version of me, kind of struggling to talk to people because of how he communicated, in a way that he continually flaunted his brains. I feel that I have helped to change him, in that he now realises, from a guy who made the same mistakes, that he needs to present a different version of himself, the funny quirky side that is great about him. That, I feel, has been the most important part of my development - I have been able to change someone else.
I am looking forward to Uni because I feel like my changed personality could help me make some great new friends and fix my cynical views. I know I still have room to improve and I think this could change by meeting a brand new group of people.

Thank you for sharing it's a satisfying relief when you feel you can move on and become an even better person than you were. Loneliness is something I think about a lot - but I often ask myself - how can we know war, politics, people, the world, if we don't know ourselves? And it gets me thinking, despite how incredibly solipsistic the suggestion posed by the question may seem.

Also haha idk I couldn't help but see you have Ajax as your profile pic and make the connection between what you said and the tragic (and quite solitary-minded) hero presented by Sophocles don't know if that was on purpose but I'm loving the geeky (or should I say greek-y) reference/inspo anyways.