Staying Authentic When the World Doesn’t Want You To
College isn’t all fun and games
On April 20, I turned 22. Ten days later, I graduated from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) with a Bachelor's degree in Advertising and Public Relations, accompanied by a minor in writing. I would be lying if I said that the last four years have been a blast. The biggest challenge I encountered in my first several years of school was wrestling with my true identity and self worth. With social media, peer pressure (yes, it is real and has real effects), a completely new environment, plus a slew of other outside influences, it can be nearly impossible to stay true to your roots and who you are. But, fighting through some of the most difficult years of my life has brought me here: a 22-year-old graduate who has grown into the young woman 18-year-old me dreamt of being.
Good things come in twos
Becoming my genuine, authentic self did not happen overnight. In fact, it took about two years, two bouts of therapy, and two summers of hard physical labor to truly figure out who I was and fall in love with myself. By then, I started embracing myself for the first time in my life. And, of course, not everyone’s journey to self discovery and love will look the same. But, I’ve narrowed down three tips to steer those in search of themselves in the right direction.
Three tips to self love and authenticity
Take inventory: One of the first steps in becoming more authentically you is taking a look around and deciding whether the people and places you surround yourself reflect your own values and aspirations. The more people you have that support you and love you for the right reasons, the better off you will be. This also includes social media: how much time do you spend on Instagram a day? How many tweets are you sending? What does your Facebook say about you? The Average American spends roughly two hours and three minutes on social media. Finding your own space and dedicating time to yourself, the more in tune you will become.
Surround yourself with love letters: This is a personal trick I’ve used for the last several years now. Whenever close friends or family write me a heartfelt letter that reminds me of the good in me and that I am loved, I hang it on my walls. They’ve become a part of my décor. I also write ones for myself to hang on the ceiling when I’m struggling to get out of bed, or to hang on the bathroom mirror so I can always know that I look good today.
Find your passion and follow it: College is like a big, stressful growing pain: you’re no longer in childhood, yet it doesn’t quite feel like adulthood yet. Add on the pressure of deciding what you’d like to do for the rest of your life, and you’ve got a great recipe for constant attacks of self doubt. But one key note of advice: find what you love and are passionate about, and pursue it. You never know where it could take you. There are so many different degrees, careers, jobs on the horizon, and passion will take you there. When you have passion, self love, authenticity, and stability will soon follow.
Good things take time
Authenticity wasn’t always on my radar. My freshman year, I wanted nothing more than to just simply fit in. It took about a year and half to finally pull myself away from this idea of what college should be like. Instead, I focused on surrounding myself with people who would better me, remembered to show myself love every single day, and continue to pursue my passion in whatever way I could.
About Kady:
Kady Volmering is a senior studying Advertising and Public Relations with a writing minor. She is currently the VP of Professional Development on GVSU's PRSSA and an account associate for GrandPR. Kady is currently working as marketing co-op for Pet Supplies Plus and in her free time she’s watching movies and rollerblading.