In the search for authenticity there are two types of people. Authentic and inauthentic. I know, obvious. Authenticity: central genuineness and awareness of being. The authentic individual has a genuine awareness of herself and copes with existential questions and crises by experiencing them directly and acting on them.
Whenever I heard the word “Existentialism” I think of my friend Brent Hagen. Two hearts, one mind, we found each other in Tokyo and instantly built a solid friendship. This led to our numerous literary jam sessions, filled with discussions on life and existence during which he boldly stated, “We are existence.” As I continue reading about how existentialism stresses the individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for the authenticity of his or her choices, I can’t help but feel a similar bond to the material. My first brush with psychology came in my high school Philosophy class. The required text was Scott Peck’s The Road Less Travelled and it opened up a whole new way of looking at the world. It was my first glimpse into these concepts of the unconscious and the greater questions in life. It was then that I began my journey toward understanding the formation of emotions and behavior. I feel fortunate to have come across this material in high school, when adolescents struggle with angst and the attempt to define themselves. It called attention to greater questions aside from “What am I wearing to homecoming?” Since then, I’ve been drawn to existentialism and try to continue expanding my self-awareness through various means such as literature, writing, and the arts. A topic I often concern myself with is the formation of anger and fear, as it seems to drive much of the pain in the world. Yalom’s statement “Although the awareness of death can create dread in individuals, it can also lead toward the development of a creative life.” speaks to my experience with death and as I embrace the possibility of eminent death, I am able to embrace life wholeheartedly. Tuesdays With Morrie was an incredible introduction. The idea of isolation strikes fear in the strongest of hearts, but it was in abandoning my hometown and leaving America which led me to experience true existential isolation. Living in a culture based on solitude and peace, I learned to find that quiet within and very often walked alone through large crowds, observing and feeling an incredible bond with humanity and nature. Getting caught up in people demanding your engagement can often lead to inauthenticity. Moving to Japan, far away from American society, family, friends, I was able to finally determine my own moral values and set of beliefs and truly discover myself. | 
