I’m trying to get freaky. Absolutely freaky. Down, dirty and completely filthy.  

These are my intentions. Nothing less, everything more.

I crave it. I feel it. I want it. There is nothing more that I want than to be a freak — it’s who I was born to be. I’m trying to get as nasty as Tinashe — I’ve been a nasty girl. 

Now that you and I are on the same page, would it be surprising to learn that all I do when I go to the club is stand in the corner and look at people in silence, scared?

Not very freaky, is it? 

I am, in fact, not a freak — sorry to disappoint, ladies. I know I was getting your hopes up. In reality, I’m quiet, reserved and shy. I want to be loyal to my girlfriend and not sleep around with many people. Those are my actual intentions. 

So, what kind of representation of myself would I be if I acted like the manwhore I described above everywhere I went? Who would I attract? Definitely not the kind of people who actually match the lifestyle I want.  

Now, you might be thinking, “Well, why don’t you just act how you actually are? If you aren’t freaky, don’t be freaky. Why are you trying to act like someone you’re not?” 

As simple as it may sound, people aren’t doing this. 

Everyone is misrepresenting themselves, and it’s a major problem. When we first meet someone, we naturally tend to hold back parts of ourselves — like on first dates. Ever been told to just “be you,” but not too much? Or have you ever been scared to talk about something you’re really into when initially talking with someone? 

So what happens when they start to like you for this facade you’ve created? Do you try to keep it up in hopes that they don’t find out who you actually are? It’s not sustainable. We’re eventually going to show them who we are, and that might chase them away. 

What happened to just laying it all out from the get-go? Match each other’s freak and be who you are! 

Building meaningful friendships or relationships requires truth. There’s nothing more painful than someone switching up, leaving you in the shadow of who you thought they were and being forced to live with the reality that they weren’t really who they said they were. Stop forcing people to jump through hoops to get to know you, and lay yourself emotionally bare to one another. 

Maybe it doesn’t work out. Maybe you show them who you really are and they just flat out reject you. They chase after you, you start to open up, they realize how much of a freak you are and they either slowly stop texting you or even ghost you. 

As much as it hurts, you’ll be doing the right thing. It’s better to leave an impression of yourself that feels true to your heart than try and put up the facade of what you think they want you to be. 

Now, I know that this might be scary. Believe me — as I’m preaching from the pulpit, I can say I struggle with this. Intrinsically, I’m a weirdo who likes overanalyzing movies and arguing about politics. Many people I meet don’t match me when it comes to my interests or my outlook on life. 

And guess what? That’s OK! I can live with people not liking me, but at least I put my true self out there. One day, I’ll meet someone who will see me for who I am, and we’ll be able to connect in a more meaningful way than if I didn’t. 

So, I ask you — will you match my freak? Will you stop putting up a front that conceals who you truly are and wear your heart on your sleeve? Genuinity is something we need in our lives, and we can do this by being who we’re meant to be. 

So let’s get freaky. Absolutely freaky. Down, dirty and completely filthy in the affirmation and the assurance that we live the way we want to live.  

Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.