ME, MYSELF AND I

It’s a cliche of many a film: the young protagonist, about to embark on some socially terrifying adventure, is sent on their way by a well-meaning relative or friend with a ‘just be yourself’ farewell, a magical panacea for achieving charisma and success. But experience tells us these coming-of-age movies usually end up landing in a far more ambiguous place when it comes to the truth of this statement – something more akin to ‘be yourself… with a makeover’, ‘be yourself… only cooler’ or ‘be yourself… but better.’

And yet, these films resonate for a reason. I can’t be alone in having spent my schooldays reluctantly trying to fit in – swapping my real and unique identity for something safe, ‘normal’ and conformist, and constantly cursing myself for never managing to fake it convincingly enough.

In fact, when I finally made it to university, every small, daring step towards myself was revelatory. It was the 1990s, when everyone was dressed in jeans, T-shirt and hoodie. But I decided