The more I’ve been thinking about it, I won’t lie, I’ve always been pretty basic. Even before it was a slang word; that was just who I was. Me, Julia, just being myself. And I hate that word. Basic, according to mostly all of the internet (I took all of these from Urban Dictionary because “basic” is a slang millennial word) is defined as “used to describe someone daft and simple” or “only interested in things mainstream, popular, and trending” or my personal favorite statement on basic girls “She believes her experiences to be crazy, wild, and different or somehow more special than everything that everybody else is doing, when really, almost everyone is doing or has done the exact same thing. Synonyms to basic are plain and unsophisticated.
My siblings always make fun of me for being basic, but I don’t conform to the mainstream society or feel like I have to change. To me, I’m not trying to be something I’m not and why change who you are if you’re just being yourself? Why is there even a stereotype? Why does everyone feel the need to label everyone else? It’s everywhere! Our culture is one that loves to do this. Why can’t we all just accept and love everyone simply because they are unique humans just like us? I’d rather be “obsessed” and excited with many things than hate them just because they might make you fill a certain stereotype. If it’s something that makes you happy, then why not? It’s unfortunate that how you look, act, and speak much of the time does define people’s first impressions of you. And to be honest, it’s not fair.
I love pink. I’m in a sorority. I love Kate Spade. I’m obsessed with coffee and Starbucks and I’ve been known to wear Uggs, a Northface and leggings to go study. Does that devalue me as a person? It shouldn’t. Those are just things I enjoy, not things that define me. I also love to travel and read. For fun I like to hang out at coffee shops and write or do homework. I’m so passionate about helping others, especially children, and I’m so excited to graduate and get started on my career. It bothers me how people think that being basic automatically means that you are dumb, materialistic, or self-centered. Being basic isn’t the problem, it’s the assumptions and judgments that’s the problem. There only becomes a problem when you begin to put others done for not conforming like you are. So I’m going to go ahead and continue to be my “basic” self, because I think I’m doing just fine being who I am.
