It's no secret that one of the biggest struggles facing high school students is that of identity.

Each year, Wantagh High School social studies instructor Michelle Harclerode tries to make sense of it with her 11th and 12th grade sociology class, touching on what identity really means, losing your identity to circumstances beyond your control and how your identity develops as you grow older.

John Consoli, a lifelong Wantagh resident, visited Harclerode's class last month to share his experiences from growing up in Wantagh to life in the military. Consoli joined the military shortly after leaving Wantagh High School and stands as the youngest Marine Corps drill instructor in history.

"I don't possess a high degree of humility," said Consoli to the class. "I take great pride in who I am and what I do. I learned to value and develop my identity as an individual and human being. I wanted to be a guy who could come back and share his experiences with Wantagh High School students."

By traditional standards, Consoli would have never qualified for a drill instructor position. He was only 18 years old in his first enlistment and was nowhere near the 5 foot 10 inches height requirement, but Consoli defied all odds and achieved his dream very early in his military career.

"Every challenge can become a stumbling block or a stepping stone," he said. "Think 'what if?'. If someone tells you that you can't do something, don't listen. Your identity is based on the things you believe. You believe you can or can't."

Consoli also stressed to the students that it's important to remain true to who you are, no matter what that may be. He spoke about his childhood best friend and their times together at Wantagh High School. Years later, that same friend committed suicide after suppressing his sexual preference his entire life.

"He hid his identity by being a tough guy," Consoli explained of his friend. "He was not comfortable with his identity. In 1979, we lived in a much more uptight and less accepting culture than the culture your generation has created today. You have to be comfortable in your own skin and you guys have created a culture where that's okay."

Harclerode believes that hearing first-hand experiences from a Marine Corps icon who also sat in the same place her students are now gives them a different insight on how to build their own identity.

"I like his message about perseverance and greatness," she said. "He truly believes no matter what you have, that with determination, goals can be achieved and I want that passed on to my students."