growing up

I went to a high school musical this weekend. I had wanted to go to 2, but alas one was all that I could make it to. So I went to the one my students were in. I teach at this school every day, but I'm in the part of the school that was not there when I went to school there. So I usually don't spend much time contemplating my past. Last Friday though as I sat watching my students perform on that stage that I knew so well I couldn't help it. I saw the girl that starred in Anything Goes (the musical we did my senior year), of course being myself I avoided her completely. The sad thing is I automatically thought of her in respect to all the problems we had with her in the production. 1. the part was of a vivacious outgoing lounge singer, and though it was as close to type casting as you can get she couldn't even act like herself on stage. 2. she was an amazing soprano, but the part was alto....ouch.
So here's this to ya'll am I the only one out there that can't help but take part of their identity from who they were in highschool? I'm not anything like that slightly confused artsy freak that wore neon polyester and lived on the stage, but part of me still sees myself like that. I suppose that applies to college too, but college was more a means to an end than a life style...at least for me anyway. Now I find myself watching my students with more interest, wondering if I can predict their outcome or will they be surprises??? Compare yourself to what you were. Would you have been surprised by what you are now???? I think I would have been. I'm glad the path changed from where I thought I'd be.