Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“Who's the person you hope to become that you feel like you're not quite yet?”
What to listen for
If they can describe this person with some detail, kinder, braver, more focused, they have a clear, motivating vision for their own growth, which shows they see themselves as a work in progress worth investing in.
If they seem uncertain or say "I don't really know," that's completely fine at this age, the goal is just planting the idea that becoming is an ongoing, welcome process, not a test to pass.
If what they describe sounds like pressure from outside rather than something they actually want, gently notice that without pushing them to defend it.
What this tells you
The person they hope to become shows you what they're currently striving toward and how much hope they hold for their own future.