Pat, we are all our own worst critics. While all of our friends could be telling us something about ourselves that is true, our inner mind will be trying not to listen and will be thinking the exact opposite. Many times this will be to our detirment, but this is a natural thing within all of us.

The problem that I'm seeing here is that you are mentally stuck listening to that inner voice and refuses to even try to see if the outside world is right about you. Your friends, family, and teachers could be giving you some very good advice, but you don't seem to be willing to listen to them at all. Sometimes this happens to younger people while they are going through puberty because of all of the new and conflicting hormones that are going through their systems. Since you didn't put your age in the question but did mention teachers, I'm thinking that this might have something to do with the situation.

My advice to you would be to try to listen a little bit more to what the people around you are saying. I'm not telling you that they will always be right, but these people might know something that could help you to attain something for yourself. Try to be a little more open to new experiences and to the fact that your friends might know a little but about you that you didn't know about. It might sound difficult, but try and give them a chance.