So, Stay True To You.
Authenticity- Of undisputed origin, genuine.
What does it even mean to be authentic today? We as a society are so conditioned to look the same way, find the same things interesting, and say the same things. The other day I was wondering If I could choose any trait, what would I want to be known for? After thinking about this for a while I decided on authenticity.
It’s a very crucial time for me! Which has been so exciting but also definitely stressful. I was stuck between two schools just a few weeks ago. On paper, one school looked more impressive. The pressure of going somewhere that was more prestigious was overwhelming. I genuinely believed that my family would be more proud of me if I attended said school, I also was infatuated with the idea of presenting myself as quite an impressive scholar. Right when I was practically ready to commit, I realized this was just not me. I was trying so very hard to be something that I was not. I thought about my, at the time, second choice. The campus was energetic and fun. I felt so welcomed and could easily envision calling this place my home. I realized that if I was honest with myself, this school was infinitely more “me”. The day after I came to this realization I put my deposit down. To my surprise, the world did NOT come to an end. My family was so supportive and told me countless times how proud they were of me. I haven't thought twice about my decision since.
This crazy direction change made me think about the importance of being authentic to ourselves. That one decision could have altered the next four years of my life. Another thing going on at the moment is how we seniors are presenting ourselves to future college friends. It is so easy to display ourselves as something we are not over the phone. This is nothing new, as by now we are all very aware that social media is just a highlight reel. I've been trying SUPER hard to be authentic throughout this process. I was super lucky to find a roommate who makes this so easy. I figure that it is much better to be real now so that when I touch down on campus, I haven’t catfished my whole personality. Plus!! We should not surround ourselves with people who we have to alter our personalities for. Own your quirks girl.
So my current goal is to be true to what I feel needs to be said, what I find interesting, what I want to wear. Life is way too short to put on an act! I hope that you all feel motivated to do the same. The world is totally more interesting with a variety of people being who they are. Remember, struggles may be inevitable, but struggling in silence is not.
XoXo- Tara :)
