Authentic Orange

Submitted by Taylor McEuin

Going to college and living on campus can come with many roadblocks and finding yourself can be one of them. Being authentic in a mass of people can be difficult, and at times, may seem impossible. But what does it mean to be authentic? Merriam-Webster.com defines authentic as “real or genuine: not copied or false. True and accurate.”  To fully answer the question “what does it mean to authentically, Be Orange” we must also understand what it mean to be Orange. As a member of the OSU community, I define “Being Orange” as simply, being an active student/faculty member of the Oregon State community. Using existential themes from many different philosophers, you can become an authentic Oregon State student.

Existential theme number one is existence precedes essence. It states that what you are is a result of your choices and you become who you make yourself to be (lecture 5/21/15). Your life is a project. College is a big part of this project that’s going to take a lot of rough drafts, erasing and changing but it’s what you make of it that makes you authentic. Spanish philosopher Jose Ortega states life is “an attempt to carry out a definite program or project of existence.” (“Man has no Nature” pg.154). When we become college students we are attempting our first project to start our whole lives and what we do with it is up to us.

Existential theme number two is existence is temporal. We students only have a minimal amount of time here at school, so we have to plan and get things done before our time as a college student is up and we are pushed into the world. The book The Sickness Unto Death states “Man is a synthesis of the infinite and the finite, of the temporal and the eternal, of freedom and the necessity, in short he is a synthesis.” (pg. 70). The fact that college is only temporal puts us under a lot of pressure and gives us a minimal amount of time to find a way to be authentic to ourselves. Four years is only a small fraction in our life time so we have to make use of the time we have.

Existential theme number three is humanism. People express and carry themselves in many different ways based on the pursuit of freedom and identity. College helps us find who we are and lets us explore things we never thought was out there. One great example is dorm living. We meet new people, live with new people, go to new classes that we are not used to. All in order to show us what path we want to pursue.

Ultimately, life is a canvas and we are the artist and it all begins with the color orange. There are many hoops to jump though and roads to cross but taking into consideration these existential themes and realizing that you are already authentic can help you become the person you want to be in the future. The Authentic You. The Orange You.

Submitted by Bailey Wood

You don’t hear the term “Authentic Orange” until you come to Oregon State University. The definition for “authentic” is “not false or copied; genuine; real” (dictionary.com). Therefore, “Authentic Orange” means to be your truest self. Many of us come to college thinking we already live an authentic life and that we have it all figured out, but it’s during this time that we realize we couldn’t be more wrong. There are five themes of existentialism that we all should be aware of because they can greatly help us grow into our genuine selves.

The first theme is that existence precedes essence. (Lecture, 4/14/15). The main idea of this theme is that what you are (your essence/nature) is a result of your choices (your existence/extra-nature). This theme ties into “Authentic Orange” because when you come to college, people don’t know your past; therefore you can have a fresh start. Your essence is not your fate, you are who you make yourself to be. You can use this new start to your benefit – be kind to everyone, be honest, and be who you truly want to be!

The second theme is that existence is temporal. (Lecture, 4/14/15). We are only on this earth for a finite period of time, and throughout our life we choose how it is spent. We can ignore things with distractions, avoid the afterlife with life extension technology, or allow ourselves to experience every event even if we feel fear or anxiety. At some point or another we practice every action whether it’s ignoring, avoiding, or experiencing. Each action we make affects our future decisions, and we either get closer to becoming our true selves, or stray farther away.

The third theme is humanism. (Lecture, 5/7/15). This is an individual focused philosophy including the pursuit of identity/freedom, and the values/meaning in opposition to social, political, and economic pressure for conformity. It seems as though the main reason we are afraid to be our genuine selves is the pressure from society to conform into someone we are not. We are terrified of being divergent from society, so we try to blend in. College is about finding yourself, so instead of trying to blend in, be yourself and stand out! You will surely find other unique individuals that are much more engaging and intriguing to be around than just your average Joe. You’re more likely to find out who you truly are if you surround yourself with these enthralling individuals. “By means of morality, individuals are led to be functions of the herd and to attribute value to themselves merely as functions.” (Nietzsche, The Gay Science, pg. 116). Nietzsche explains the “herd” as a sickness; we are only valuable as part of the herd, and weak as an individual. While there may be a plethora of diverse moralities, we are still a part of a herd, and cannot stand out by ourselves. Society has conformed us to be part of a group, rather than have the confidence to be unique.

The fourth theme is ethics. (Lecture, 5/7/15). Ethical considerations are vital, this includes varying ethics, shared commitment to authentic living as individuals/society, and a commitment to politics. Stay true to your beliefs, don’t let others opinions on a subject change what you truly feel is right. If you allow others to influence your beliefs, you will lose that authenticity. Eventually you could become just another brainwashed college student that doesn’t stand out. If it’s on a topic such as voting in politics, laws, etc., first do the research yourself before you ask others their opinion. This will prevent your beliefs from being swayed one way or the other before you know all the facts.

The fifth theme is freedom. (Lecture, 5/7/15). Philosophy of freedom includes reflection, transcendence, and responsibility. We are free to create and choose our values. Freedom is “self-surpassing”, meaning that there is a part of you who is undefined, and unknown. Throughout life you are always moving forward, trying to find yourself.

College is the most important time in our lives because it is then that we learn more about ourselves and who we truly are. It’s crucial that we take these themes into account when we strive to being “Authentic Orange”!