NESSA’S NOTIONS: Authenticity Never Gets Old
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Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
By VANESSA W. SNYDER
People say that the older you get, the less you care about what people think. You’re more likely to do and say what you feel because the filters are gone.
I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Because when the filters are off, there is authenticity.
Example.
I only recently accepted my inner nerd and made peace with it. Even though this doctoral process has been long, there’s a part of me – the nerdish part – that’s actually enjoying all the researching, writing, editing, rewriting, thinking, reflecting and studying … only to start again.
So, I guess I’m learning to be authentic. Learning to just be me.
I can finally admit that I like reading academic books and discussing theories and trying to make connections between theory and practice. And even though the writing is hard, the challenge of completing this study is quite the ride.
I think about how I can apply my research to my job, and how I can make a difference in the lives of children and perhaps the entire field of education. The possibility that I can make a real difference is overwhelming, in a good way, and it keeps me going.
Yes, it’s good to be authentic. It’s good to know who you are, what you like, what inspires you and what brings you joy.
There’s a lot of work involved when we try living an inauthentic life. And a lot of time is wasted. The earlier you decide to be who you truly are, the better off you’ll be. We don’t have to conform to society’s norms on identity, who we’re supposed to be based on our age, race, gender, etc. Deep inside, we know what brings us true joy and fulfillment. But our fear of what others think and expect from us often gets in the way.
So, I say get alone and be still. Look at your life and decide if you’re being authentically you. If not, decide to “do you.” It’s not too late.
Authenticity never gets old.
(A former journalist currently working on her doctorate in Social Emotional Learning, Vanessa is a dedicated and passionate educator in the DC Public Schools system. She loves learning, leadership, innovation, collaboration, and discovering new ways to drive student gains and support staff members).
