Pursuing the authentic life

Kayla Webley
2004-09-27
The Daily

Despite being a national performer, director and a highly respected UW professor, Robyn Hunt considers her best credential to be the "authentic life" that she strives to lead.

"I think I have one," said Hunt, who was this year's freshmen convocation speaker. Hunt sought to inspire the incoming freshmen yesterday by speaking about how to live an authentic life, a concept she was first introduced to in a speech by activist Abe Osheroff.

"[Osheroff] was very inspiring, and he among other things talked about an authentic life. He was challenging young students here at the UW to live an authentic life," said Hunt. "I was so impressed with his words and his thoughts that when I was called to do this speech I thought that's what I can offer."

Hunt detailed what an authentic life is, saying that it is a meaningful life full of meaningful work and love. Hunt went onto say an authentic life is achieved when all areas of life are unified as one, or, "When what you say, what you think and what you do are in harmony," she said.

Hunt earned an M.F.A. in acting from University of California in San Diego and afterwards performed and directed professionally. Her real desire was to teach, however, and she set out to pursue a career that would combine teaching and acting. She became the head of the UW's undergraduate drama program in 1988 and served that position until 2000, when she stepped down to focus on the M.F.A. Professional Actor Training Program. In 2001, she received the UW's Distinguished Teaching Award.

Hunt feels that her work at the UW has helped her achieve an authentic life.

"This job is incredible. Indescribable. It's always interesting. It's amazing. It's full of opportunity. It defines creativity and origination," she said. "It's crazy to work with such gifted artists and such wonderful colleagues."

Hunt said the first step in the road to success is listening to oneself. She explained that very few will succeed, and the ones who do, do so because they have listened to their true voice.

She also sought to instill the value of living an authentic life by challenging freshmen to take advantage of the University and what it offers its students.

"It is not the University's job to listen to that voice. You must listen," said Hunt. "But the University will encourage you to listen to the voice."

Hunt detailed suggestions to freshmen to begin in their pursuit of an authentic life.

"Listen to your convictions. When you need it ask for help, go to the gym.

Remember your parents will be proved right many times," she said. "And know that there will be difficult days; learning is hard work."

Hunt had to defeat many obstacles in her chosen path, and this has allowed her to relate to students and urge them to overcome their personal obstacles.

"There were many injunctions against doing what I was choosing to do, which was to combine acting and teaching," she said. "Many people discouraged me, but good teachers and my parents encouraged me."

Hunt had particular trouble in her profession due to the odds against her in both fields.

"Acting is a very hard life," she said. "Women in academia are not the dominant numbers here. Tenured women and then full professors, that's an even smaller percentage."

Hunt encouraged students facing similar challenges to use the UW to help along the way, but noted that students must be willing to actively participate.

Hunt also told students to listen, practice honesty and make what she called, "the courageous choice." This means standing up for personal beliefs and not going with the crowd on issues like illegal substances and sex.

"Every time you take the easy way you sacrifice a bit of your integrity," she said.

Hunt ended her convocation speech by challenging students to live life as she strives to do daily.

"You achieve authenticity by practicing it," she said. "I charge you to do the same."