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The Pixel Punk Diaries |
The Real World: Five Year Later
I made a trip back to the New Orleans for the five-year anniversary of filming “The Real World”. My first stop in New Orleans was in front of the house where we filmed the show. I stepped out of my rented car and looked up at that big white mansion that I used to call home.
I paused and looked around to absorb the details. Although the house was as beautiful as ever, not much had changed. The sidewalk was still broken, the iron gate still squeaked, the street cars still paced up and down St. Charles Avenue. The only thing that seemed to change was me.
So much has happened in those five years. I’ve traveled the world to share the Gospel, to over 200 places just in the US. I’ve met hundreds of thousands of very special young people. I’ve made such great friends! I’ve created lifeteen.com, home to thousands of teenagers everyday. After a few years of this, I even went on another show—“The Road Rules Challenge”. There I relived more of the same dramas, followed by more adventures.
“Who you are before Jesus is who you are—nothing more, and nothing less.” All of these adventures began because one random day in college, I tried out for “The Real World”. I think each of us on our show imagined that we would go on TV, look cool, then go on living a cool life. But that never really happened.
While we were living in the house, we were forced to deal with painful, awkward situations. Our weaknesses and insecurities were revealed to an audience of ten million. We had to reconcile your biggest dreams with the painful realities of life. There was no chance of being cool…you just wanted to be able to go on with your life, and hold your head up high. And that is what I’ve been doing every day for the past five years. But it’s not been easy.
It was bizarre to see myself on MTV, the very network I’d watched my whole life. It was even more bizarre to see my life picked-apart by editors, then re-assembled into twenty-two episodes. MTV showed some of me, but not all of me. That was difficult reality to deal with in my own heart, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the criticism and praise that would come from the millions of people who watched the show. I braced myself each morning after a show aired because I had to walk out of my house and face the world.
I came to a crossroads where I had to answer the big question of life: “Who am I living for?” If I were living for the editors, I would’ve exploited and manipulated those around me to make a more sensational show. If I were living for the media, I would dilute my beliefs so I would become less threatening. If I were living to impress my peers, I would’ve spent all my money and fame on cars and fancy clothes. But what do I gain? Nothing. I only lose my soul.
St. Francis said it best: “Who you are before Jesus is who you are—nothing more, and nothing less.” When I die, Jesus will not care if I was famous, successful, or rich. He will not care if more people liked me than the other people on the show. None of that will matter.
It's only when you figure out that the things of this world do not matter are I able to truly be ALIVE. Jesus wraps my heart with such great love so I can take each day with confidence. I have no fear because He is always by my side. He is more faithful and loving than I could’ve ever imagined. He is everything to me. Thank you, Jesus.
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Matt Smith is the Director of Internet Ministries for Life Teen, an international Catholic youth ministry based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is the creative force behind Life Teen's cluster of websites that receive nearly 2 million visits a year. Since staring on MTV's "Real World" and MTV's "Road Rules Challenge", Matt has traveled the country speaking at colleges, universities, schools, and Catholic parishes.
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