December 18, 2025

"You've got to show the world who you are before it tells you. Otherwise you become victim to someone you're not."

Chris Colfer
Did you find this inspiring?
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Explanation

It’s saying: don’t wait for other people to decide who you are. If you don’t put your true self out there — your tastes, your choices, the way you speak and live — others will fill that gap with labels, expectations, or roles that don’t fit. Think about jobs you took to please someone, or hiding parts of yourself on social media, or staying quiet in relationships. When you show up honestly, you steer your story instead of letting it be written for you. It’s not about being loud, it’s about gentle courage: small acts of truth that keep you from becoming someone you don’t recognize.

About the Author

Chris Colfer (born May 27, 1990, in Clovis, California) is an American actor, writer and producer who rose to fame as Kurt Hummel on the TV series Glee (2009–2015). He won a Golden Globe in 2011 for that role and is a bestselling author best known for his young‑adult fantasy series The Land of Stories. Open about being gay and about overcoming dyslexia and early bullying, Colfer has used his platform to champion LGBTQ visibility and stories that celebrate individuality. That personal history—insisting on his own voice in the face of pressure to conform—helps explain his admonition to "show the world who you are before it tells you."

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