Let's explore this bad blood between private and public schools. Why is it there? And how true are those surrounding stereotypes?

All the way through kindergarten, up through my senior year of high school, I attended public schools. While in school, I felt pride in what I achieved academically and otherwise, just as I would imagine anyone in public or private school would. I was never taught to hold animosity against those kids who could afford a private school education, but those feelings (although never encouraged) were hard to ignore.

Those private school kids got all the new cars when they turned 16, never had to work until out of college, and their parents could always afford to give them the newest gadgets.

Those private school kids didn't have character, they never had to lift a finger for anything they wanted, and they surely wouldn't have the endurance or ability to survive in a public school.

I did a quick experiment with my sister, who is currently a senior in high school and attending a public school. What were the first adjectives that popped into her head when thinking about private school students? Her answers were, "rich, snobby, white, their parents are lawyers and doctors, they wear uniforms, and they're book smart but not street smart."

These are common stereotypes of students attending a private school, and ones that, if I were asked the same question, I'd probably answer similarly.

However, after attending public school my whole life, I now attend a private college; and I don't feel like I fit into the "private school" stereotype. Even though I don't see myself representing this stereotype, I see that others assign it to me when I tell them where I go to school.

While looking at colleges in high school, I initially ruled out private schools because I thought I'd never be able to afford it. However, after getting all my aid packages back, I discovered I received SO much more financial aid from my private college, rather than the public schools I was considering. (Which, when I tell people that to this day, they have a hard time believing me - but it's true!)

I'm proud of my school, of my accomplishments, and of all that I've learned while in school. Although, because of the private school stereotype, I am hesitant to tell people where I go to school because I've gotten the response of, "Oh, you go to that school" multiple times, which carries the assumption that I'm the basic rich, white, and entitled private school college student.

I am now placed in the stereotype which I thought I was above.

I wouldn't trade my private college experience for anything! People choose colleges or universities based on what they want to take away from their time there. Whether that be academically, socially, or religiously. We all have the ability to create our own college experience, one that isn't predetermined by the label of "public" or "private" institution.

The stereotypes we see surrounding the types of schools we attend, the people we choose to surround ourselves with, and the activities we choose to involve ourselves in, all ultimately create stereotypes for ourselves - it's unavoidable. However, these aren't descriptors of us as individuals, and they don't account for us as individuals!

They are just that - descriptors... words... other's assumptions... - and we need to remember to separate the stereotype from the student, and see each other as the individuals we are.