Writers 
We are not exactly the same person around everyone.
Around some people, we are loud and playful. Around others, we are quiet and careful. There are people who make us feel completely comfortable being ourselves, while there are others whose presence makes us suddenly become conscious of everything we say and do.
And sometimes, the difference is not simply personality. Sometimes, it is the fear of being judged.
Some people become different versions of themselves depending on who they are around because they want to be accepted. Some are people-pleasers. Some are afraid of being misunderstood. Others may struggle with low self-esteem and constantly worry about how people perceive them.
They may laugh at things they don't find funny, agree with opinions they don't actually share, or behave in ways that don't really reflect who they are, simply because they want to fit in.
And the more often we do this, the easier it becomes to forget who we actually are.
There is nothing wrong with adapting to different environments. We naturally behave differently in different situations. The way you speak to your lecturer may not be the same way you speak to your closest friend, and that doesn't mean you are pretending.
The important question is: Are you adapting, or are you losing yourself?
Knowing who you are matters.
When you have a clear sense of your identity, you don't have to pretend to be someone else just because you entered a different room. You may adjust your behaviour to suit the situation, but the values and principles that make you who you are remain intact.
One way to know whether you are losing yourself is to examine your own behaviour.
Does what you are saying or doing actually tally with who you are?
Would you still make that choice if you weren't trying to impress anyone?
Are you agreeing because you genuinely agree, or because you are afraid of what will happen if you don't?
Those questions can reveal a lot.
The people around us also matter greatly.
Some people bring out the best in us. They encourage us, challenge us, correct us when necessary and genuinely want to see us grow. Good friends don't have to agree with everything we do. Sometimes, the person who pushes us to become better is more valuable than the person who simply tells us what we want to hear.
Wise people can influence us positively too. Being around people who are growing, learning and making intentional decisions about their lives can challenge us to do the same.
But the opposite is also true.
There are people who constantly pull us backwards. People who make unhealthy behaviour seem normal. People who discourage our growth because they are uncomfortable with the person we are becoming.
That is why choosing your circle matters.
At the end of the day, you cannot live your entire life trying to become the version of yourself that everyone else will approve of. There will always be someone who doesn't understand you. Someone who doesn't like your choices. Someone who thinks you should be different.
If you spend your whole life trying to please everyone, you may eventually discover that you have pleased everybody except yourself.
So learn to know yourself.
Know what you believe.
Know what you value.
Know what you will and will not compromise.
Allow yourself to grow, but don't allow growth to become an excuse for pretending. Become better, but remain authentic.
And surround yourself with people who make it easier to become that better version of yourself.
Because the goal isn't to become the person everyone likes.
The goal is to become someone you can honestly recognize when you look at yourself.
Never become someone else just to please people.