We all know the stereotypes of personality; you’re either Type A or Type B, and there is seemingly no middle ground. I've long been interested in the concept of personality, because in my view, people are so different that it seems hard to fit the whole population into two distinct boxes. I remember taking a personality test in middle school that told me I was the farthest on the Type A side of the spectrum that someone could possibly be. When taking the test, it seemed to me that people who were Type B got a much more positive reaction; they were the fun, extroverted, spontaneous kids that the Type A people yelled at to shut up and do their work. There seems to be a negative stigma attached to being Type A, because they are workaholics who get too stressed and, according to some, are much more likely to die at an early age from stress-related diseases. This wide generalization fails to include all the awesome things about being Type A!

Over the years, I have taken other personality assessments and have observed myself, and ultimately decided that I don’t have to be one or the other. Sure, I’m organized, sensitive, and often get anxious, like a typical Type A person. But I also love taking risks and have never been competitive, like a Type A is supposed to be. My group of friends contains a balanced mix of Type A's and Type B's, which is unusual, because Type A's are supposedly too high-strung for B's to handle. My best friend is one of the most Type B people I know, and our relationship is perfect because we balance out each other's most extreme traits. The idea that you have to be friends with or date someone who is similar to you personality wise seems false from what I have experienced.

So, if you too are the person staring at your watch in the Starbucks line, making a to-do list for every aspect of your life, making plans that cannot be broken, or taking control of the group project because you need it done exactly your way, I definitely get you. But just because you’re that person doesn’t mean you can’t also be the one making a risky decision, spending all day doing nothing, or saying “I don’t care,” and genuinely meaning it.