Education

Kammii Maddox 

Dr. Whatley 

Composition 1302 

April 4, 2026 

Final Research Paper 

In today's world, people often feel constant pressure to fit in. A person is judged based on how they act, their opinion, the way they dress, and more. Because of this, it can be very difficult to discover true authenticity in a world filled with expectations and standards being set. The journey toward authenticity is a journey for one to find their true self. A person must have the courage to stand out and face challenges. The journey toward authenticity requires one to accept who they truly are, face their struggles, and have the courage to show their uniqueness, which defines them and makes them authentic.  

The article ¨Why Fear Spanish? ¨ by Carlos Alberto Montaner relates to the theme of the journey toward authenticity, as it describes how fear, pressure, and societal backlash affect one's identity. In the article, a couple faces public backlash for speaking Spanish while walking, as a woman found that their language was a disturbance. The main idea is to describe how a person now fears speaking their first language due to society. Montaner states, ¨Thousands, millions of monolingual Americans are mortified that in their country there is a vast minority that constantly speaks a language that they do not understand¨ (Montaner 96). This evidence describes how Montaner and others who speak a foreign language are seen as aliens to society, all because the language is not easy to understand for those who do not speak it. Montaner then says, ¨Since then-and, I fear, for all time-foreigners are inevitably considered barbarians¨ (Montaner 96). This quote describes how anyone who is seen differently, like a foreigner, is compared to a barbarian. This battles the journey toward authenticity, as society is pushing those who speak a foreign language to be something they are not. It is pushing people to hide their true identities, as they are seen as outcasts. However, the author ties the article toward the theme of the journey toward authenticity, as Montaner is pushing people to be true to themselves despite the backlash, since the United States will most likely never change.  

In the article "The Talk" by Gary Soto, he describes how two young Mexican American boys discuss their futures. The boys talk about how they know they are ugly but continue to strive for a certain future lifestyle. The main idea of this article is to describe how society has set such standards to make, for example, two young boys feel ugly. Soto starts the article off by stating, ¨My best friend and I knew we were gonna grow up to be ugly¨ (Soto 93). This describes how society has placed such a standard or image on a person that they must look a certain way to not be considered ugly. This very reason is taking away a person's true authenticity, as they are trying to change their image to better fit what society deems perfect. Soto also states, ¨If I try, I think I can make myself better looking¨ (Soto 95). This line describes how the boys must change themselves to be considered better-looking. This article and quotes challenge the theme of the journey toward authenticity, as they are trying to change their looks based on what society views as non-ugly. One should remain true to themselves and have confidence, as this will allow a person to further their journey towards true authenticity. 

The article "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris describes his hopes of learning French after moving to Paris. The main idea of the article is to describe how challenging and even embarrassing it can be to attempt to learn a new language. He faces challenges in the classroom, as he is faced with embarrassment from corrections, and his teacher is harsh. This creates struggles with authenticity, as he is faced with insecurities when faced with failures. Sedaris states, ¨I really, really hate you. Call me sensitive, but I could not help but take it personally¨ (Sedaris 13). This describes how harsh the teacher is, which can cause a person to feel insecure and bad about being their true self. The author also says, ¨My only comfort was that I was not alone¨ (14). This best describes how everyone was faced with the same embarrassment and failures. This article ties to the theme of the journey toward authenticity, as the main character is faced with embarrassment and given insecurities but realizes that he is not alone in this case. Not everyone is perfect, and everyone is gonna make mistakes or fail. To reach true authenticity, a person must remain true to themselves and realize that not everyone will be perfect in society's eyes. 

In the article, "Authenticity and Self-Knowledge" by Simon D. Feldman and Allan Hazlett, they argue that the value of authenticity does not explain the extended value of self-knowledge. A person needs to be themselves and understand themselves in a greater aspect to achieve true authenticity. The article states, ¨The Delphic motto, a favorite of philosophers, enjoins you to ´know thyself´, implying the value of self-knowledge¨ (Feldman and Hazlett 157). This describes how a person must know their true self to achieve their identity. The authors also state, ¨We submit that the authentic person will struggle to resist the motivational influence of such self-knowledge¨ (Feldman and Hazlett 179). This describes how being authentic consists of struggles and conflicts that personal self-knowledge may create. This article best relates to the theme of the journey toward authenticity, as Feldman and Hazlett argue that they believe one needs a true insight into a person's beliefs, values, etc.  

Overall, the journey toward authenticity is not something that happens quickly. This journey is a process and not an easy one. It involves facing challenges head-on, facing fears, and having the courage to express one's true self. Although it may be difficult in today's world, allowing oneself to stand out, to be their own person, to not put on a show to fit in, is what defines authenticity. Choosing to be authentic is not only a hard decision but the best decision a person can make for themselves. In the end, authenticity is challenged by societal views, self-image, fear of failure, and even not fully understanding one's self-knowledge. The best thing a person can do is work through the struggles of the journey to be able to feel confident and honest with their true self in the end.