Never mind searching for who you are.  Search for the person you aspire to be. ~Robert Brault,

All men should strive
to learn before they die
what they are running from, and to, and why.
~James Thurber

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~e.e. cummings, 1955

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. ~e.e. cummings

1. I always say I am going to have a great school year, but somehow I always get off track half way through it. What can I do to stay more focused?

Well, I often had the same problems while in school. The best way to stay focused is to remember why you wanted to do well in the first place. It can be very helpful when you remind yourself that you wanted to do well because there is a good college you want to get into or you made an agreement with your parents that if you earned all A’s and B’s you would get a car.

2. How do I make a new start at an old school?

Shaking an old reputation can be difficult to do especially if it is one you acquired over several years, but there is a way! If you were known for being one of the "bad kids" in school or the student that would fail everything the first step is to make a decision to do something different. After that you have change the people you are hanging around. If they haven't made a decision to do better they will only prevent you from doing so. Lastly, let your teachers know that you want to make a change. They will most likely help you to do that. Just make sure you are serious about the change.