The Rocket

Issue date: 3/3/06 Section: Opinion

Erich Alvarado-Shoup - Staff Writer

The self-image is perhaps the most powerful tool with which human beings are born. People have always strived to stand out and claim recognition, whether as individuals or as part of a group. I believe that the individual is much more powerful than the group, since individuals form ideas and groups form groupthink. It's said in the end, we all die alone.

While my own version of this statement would be slightly abridged, it is a necessity to be comfortable with ourselves if we are to move forward. Those without a strong sense of self tend to fall by the wayside when it comes to maturation and success.

The seasons of life come and go. As the storms of life come against us all, one may begin to wonder what purpose his or her life holds. At times, we may all feel as if no one in the world cares. Sure, everyone's mother tells them they're special, but she's usually the same person who changed our diapers. Mom may not be able to admit the being she has reared is anything less than perfect.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see a punk, a hippy, a skater, a gangsta, a beatnik, a frat boy, a sorority girl, a clown or a loser? Or do you rather see a poet, an entrepreneur, a helper, a servant, a jack-of-all-trades or a king? There's a piercing question that we must all seek the answer to when assessing ourselves; am I my own person or merely conforming to meet a stereotype? Think hard about this for a moment. Do you like the answer to my question? If not, no one but you can change your perception of yourself.

Now, I may begin to sound a lot like Tyler Durden in the words that follow, but bear with me, because we do not have the same overall message. You are not your clothes. You are not your job. You are not your appearance. You are not your significant other. You are not your major. None of these things matter as much as what you are truly. And may I add that what you are truly is definitely not the singing, dancing crap of the world, thank you very much. You are your own person and no one can ever take that away from you.

Finding yourself is not an easy process. It's not an accident like finding a winning lottery ticket lying on the side of the road. It requires soul searching and a fearless inventory of oneself. Sometimes this can be harder for some since they may not like the things they find. There are so many different stages to go through before a person discovers himself or herself. Life is not all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows and we often forget that pain is a learning process. If we were joyful all the time, what excitement or change would that bring about?

Some may find themselves through playing music, writing or in various other fulfilling activities, whether they be in the arts or not. I found myself in God very recently. My life is not perfect and neither am I, but my faith gives me something bigger than myself to rely on when I feel that I can go on no longer. I used to think everyone needed an addiction, but apparently I was wrong. It feels great to be able to combat the desires to drink or smoke or binge-eat through prayer and self-devotion. I feel like Sting, without the bleached hair, yoga and tantric sex. Well, maybe someday.

It's awesome to know that I won't die alone after all. Life's not so meaningless when you have true love.

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