Even as I sit here in a Panera away from campus, I cannot escape the feeling of eyes burning holes in the back of my head. Even better: I can even hear (way too obvious) side comments about what I chose to wear to study tonight for a few hours. This has been an occurrence in my life for as long as I can remember. The comments vary, but predominately encircle the concept of the way I portray myself. I would absolutely consider myself the "black sheep" in comparison to my family and friends. Oddly enough, I don't feel all that "weird", though. Sure, I push boundaries, and I like it. Whether it be hair colors, clothing, music, or hobbies; I like to try new things and be different. (High school had a field day with me, as you could probably imagine.) Funny thing is, I actually found myself having friends from multiple different friend groups in high school. I identified with many different people because I was diverse. Sure, I wasn't invited to any of the super "cool" parties because I wasn't friends with the entire friend group. But in actuality, I was happy with the friends I made. It was unfathomable, though, that judgement would continue into college and likely will continue as time progresses. I can't even count the amount of times I've been somewhere with my boyfriend and felt like there must have been a sign pinned to our chests or backs we didn't know about based on the looks we received. The first thought that comes to mind when this topic is brought up often goes something like this: "I should be more tough. I'm the problem". To be honest, not caring may be difficult, but it's something I can genuinely say I've learned to do over the years. This isn't about having a backbone, it's about the fact that even in year 2016, we cannot accept each other. And it's utterly pitiful.

There are many things about our generation I often think about and feel so strongly about. Judgement strikes a nerve with me though, because it's just so inevitable no matter where you go or what you do, or what generation you come from. Even in college, a place where you can anticipate a melting pot of cultures, dialects, sexual preferences, and style. The comments I hear daily simply walking around college campuses are pretty repulsive. We love talking about each other, and using each other's differences against them. Think about it, we're literally pinpointing certain things about each other that we really have no credibility to say whether or not it's "okay", and putting it into a category of "flaws". Flaws, by definition, can only be identified by you, not someone else. Women can be some of the worst at doing this, which is flat-out shocking to me. Come on, girls. We have enough crap to deal with in this world, why are we putting each other down?

Acceptance is a difficult and huge task. As humans, we are shaped by what's modeled for us and what we are exposed to. It's not difficult to think that because of this, anything different will likely be things we consider "weird" or "outlandish". But let's be real, what's actually considered "weird" anymore? In all reality, bullying is worse and more common than ever. It's been made even easier thanks to technology, but the verbal remarks are far from gone. Most of the time, I find it's the things that we don't understand that we don't "like". If you're going to say anything, say something that will help gain understanding. Ask questions. Do research. But please, do not pass judgement on things you don't know simply because you don't understand them or haven't been exposed to them. Stop resisting change and the differences between you and others. Understand that you do not have to support others in order to be accepting of them. Be aware that accepting others is a process, and likely will not happen overnight.

I'm holding my own generation accountable for their actions when it comes to this topic. We don't have the option of blaming the time we grew up in as to why we cannot accept one another for who they truly are. We aren't the grandparents "set in our ways" because we were alive for very trying, historic moments in history; We aren't our parents who were taught our grandparent's ways. No, we're the generation that saw marriage equality become legal. We're the generation that still fights racism, actively. We're fashion forward, we're technologically advanced. I don't have excuses for my own generation. I don't.