1. "Give up labels"

Labels can certainly be harmful. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to anecdotes that referred to somebody as black, bitch, gay, faggot, Jew, retarded, etc in a poor attempt to develop a character or person. When someone receives a brand, one specific label, it becomes a stereotype, which essentially cheapens that person with a clearance sale sign. But we can't just act like we're not gay, black, Jewish, female, transgender, etc, because even if we don't fit into a stereotype, we still have an identity, a composite of many labels. If I were a transgender Jewish person from Germany, I wouldn't be any one of those things individually, but all of those tags would still define me. In addition to being a Jewish transgender German person, I could also be a footballer or a violinist, or both. But each of those titles combined is what would make me an individual, and losing any of them would in fact strip away my individuality.

2. "No Homo"

It's bad enough that the LGBT community receives judgment from religious extremists, but many homophobes aren't even religious. They're just stuck in the (labelled) mindset of what does and doesn't qualify as masculine. This is harmful to everybody, regardless of gender, because gender roles not only result in depression and anxiety, but are a leading cause of sexual assault and suicide.

3. "Don't be so Conceited"

I personally have told a lot of stories that may not seem realistic... about my stay in Central Europe, speaking at a national literary conference, getting ranked among comedians in the state of Florida. All of those stories are true. But that doesn't make me better than anyone else. We all have triumphs and feats. We've all completed something amazing or created a masterpiece. We're just told not to brag about it, that we're not so special. But your A in the class you thought you'd fail, witnessing a play live, game ending goal, publication, landing an internship, discovering something you're passionate about is just as great as what anyone else has done. You've put just as much work into your life as anyone else. We're told time and time again that we're insignificant to the universe, but your birth was the creation of your own universe, a Big Bang in itself, and what you do matters.

4. "You Need to Read Constantly"

I love to read and wish I could do it more often. But not everyone grows up with a background that encourages reading. Many people are dyslexic or have to work hard just to maintain the lives they have. Reading isn't compatible with everyone. There are two solutions to this.

The first, though controversial, is television. Once you get past the Kardashians and whatever scandal Chris Christie or Taylor Swift has gotten into, you'll notice that TV has evolved from the, "idiot box that won't catch on." There are so many intelligent, well-developed shows out there, ranging from "Game of Thrones" and "The West Wing" to animated programs like "Gravity Falls" and "The Legend of Korra."

And if TV isn't for you, as cliché as it sounds, you can still learn so much on the street, from social life, from absorbing, but most importantly, doing. Even if you do read and watch TV, it's important to not just get bogged down in the actions of fictional characters. Go to the beach or a park, a club or a bar. The introvert in me cringes when I say this, but be social, at least on occasion.

5. "'Murica is the Worst/Best Country on Earth"

You've probably heard both sides of this, even in the country itself. Many Americans will proudly tout that America is the greatest country in the world. They enjoy hamburgers and hotdogs and apple pie and Apple iPhones. You'll also hear people criticize the States. After all, we have made some serious mistakes in history, most notably slavery and genocide.

But every country has its rough patches. Many African nations are experiencing that now. So we are no better or worse than they are. We've invented the atom bomb and assembly line, but also the Internet and a vaccine for polio. For every Andrew Carnegie, we've had a Thomas Edison. For every Jim Crowe, we've had a Martin Luther King. This country has screwed up. This country has triumphed. What nation or person hasn't?

6. "Call Them Out as a Slut/Prude"

This decade has put a spotlight on slut shaming, judging people for having what is considered too much sex. Sometimes one may even refer to a kiss as too much sex. While we're not publicly executing women for having premarital sex anymore - at least not commonly - anyone, mostly women, will get verbally insulted or even shamed on the Internet just for pursuing pleasure.

However, since the 1950s and the invention of the condom, sex became more normalized. Over the next 60 years, fooling around formed an institution. 'The cool kids' had sex in high school. The CEOs, the rich and powerful, made their lives awesome. People aspired to be that cool. Magazines showed women in little clothing. We oversexualised anything from a dress to perfume. That's what people wanted. People want to 'have some fun.'

Not everyone's idea of fun is the same, though. While a vast number of people love to hook up and play the field or even dive right into it in a serious relationship, not everyone does. Now with the hyper-sexualized society of 21st Century, we've 'prudes' into a margin, as well. We often assume that there's some religious reason behind one's choice, that they're just unfit for sex, or that they're gay. We ignore the fact that to some people, sex just is not a priority or even an interest.

Although, somebody else's dating life (or lack there of) isn't anyone else's business but their own. If your idea of a good time is Netflix or a walk around campus, don't feel pressured to do a something you're not comfortable with. If your idea of having fun revolves around parties and sleeping with (whomever), as long as you check for consent, literally knock your socks off. Follow your arrow, but don't aim your neighbor's bow.