I have to admit, sitting down to write my first article that’s going to be available for the entire world to see is a little daunting. When I started thinking about what topic I wanted to tackle first, a lot of ideas flew across my brain like Tom Brady screen passes. One idea in particular reached the end zone though: being misunderstood.

I think everyone has been misunderstood at one point or another. Stereotypes are a perfect example of that. The Baby Boomers had tons of stereotypes thrown at them, such as they don’t get technology (tell that to my Grandma who will most likely read this on her iPad). Which is why the stereotypes that are applied to millennials are no more than the stereotypes applied to previous generations. However, everyday I feel like I read a new stereotype about millennials that frankly isn’t any more true than those applied to members of other generations. Therefore, I have decided to choose the top 5 stereotypes about millennials that drive me batshit crazy (excuse my French) and give you reasons why they aren’t true. This week we’re going to talk about the first one. Instead of throwing statistics and research studies at you I’m going to use people. Real people that I know and love, who prove without a shadow of a doubt that these stereotypes are just plain wrong.

Stereotype 1: Millennials are lazy.

When I thought about who I knew that could prove that our generation is not in fact lazy my mind went to one person and one person only: my best friend Ashley. Ashley and I have been close since the 7^th grade and through the years she has proven to be a fighter. Not a lazy couch potato that people would make us out to be.

Let me tell you her story.

In middle school, Ashley put school first and managed to get straight A’s all three years. Seems easy, right? Wrong. Not only would she study, do her homework, class projects, book reports, and presentations but she had a life outside of school too. She danced and played soccer. Dance and soccer consumed hours of her time everyday after school and the remaining time she had she spent studying, working on that homework, those class projects, book reports and preparing presentations. Sometimes I wonder how she and I managed to stay friends considering the tiny amount of time we actually spoke to each other. Ashley took summer school to get ahead in high school classes and participated in soccer camp in order to ensure herself a spot on the high school soccer team. Summer school classes are accelerated and even more time consuming. Soccer camp sucks the life out of you. I know because I did the same thing with volleyball. Aside from holidays, she kicked her own ass every single day.

In high school, Ashley mainly took AP and Honors classes. Typical for a high school student yes…not so typical? Taking AP and Honors classes while playing on the soccer team, babysitting her little brothers, managing a new relationship with her boyfriend and trying to have a social life. Shocking right!? A teenager wants to have a social life! They should be locked up in their rooms studying while food gets shoved under their doors three times a day! *NEWSFLASH PEOPLE* Social lives are healthy and imperative to a person’s well-being and success in the real world!

Anyway- back to Ashley.

Today she is a sophomore in college and continues to prove how hard of a worker she is. She went to community college her freshman year and took a ridiculous amount of classes, got straight A’s again and was accepted to transfer to USC after just one year. All the while she worked multiple days a week, was a nanny for two young girls, and yes- managed a long distance relationship. (Happy *almost* 5 years you two!)

So before you decide to call one of my people “lazy” think about Ashley. She is only one reason out of millions that prove that notion is false. We work hard to have a chance at a successful future.

Ashley isn’t lazy.

Millennials aren’t lazy.

We are not lazy.

If your head is starting to hurt from the mind blowing, pop an Advil because I’m just getting started. See you next week for stereotype number two. Oh! And to my fellow millennials: keep kicking ass. I see you, I hear you and I’m proud.