"You're an entitled selfish brat," said a close family member of mine.
I am not sure why there is a stigma that the entire millennial generation are brats. The one thing that appalls me is to be placed in a category that I am nothing like. Speaking of which, I speak for all millennials that do not associate with selfish, bratty, or entitled behaviors. Bravo.
Today, I am about two weeks away from graduating with my degree, and without any college debt. How is that possible? Well, some would argue I was handed the money, and some would argue I didn't earn it.
To expand, I come from a Hispanic household, which places the words lazy, criminal, drunk, and poor on my back everywhere I go. No one says it, but I can feel it each time I leave the room. Not only is there an outsider perspective degrading my character because of my culture, but there is an inner perspective from within my culture that degrades its own culture.
I broke tradition and I broke out of the cycles my family was in. Needless to say, my family hated me for it. I received many offensive words thrown my way because I graduated high school one year early to attend college. I was told I was selfish, would never make it, and I was trying to grow up too fast.
For the last four years, I've heard rumors that I flaunted around some imaginary prosperity in front of my less entitled family. Rumors that I was high and mighty, and I thought I was better than anyone else. Rumors that I didn't care for anyone else but myself. Keep in mind, these rumors stem from the familiar faces I see at Christmas.
My feelings were shattered every which way to find out that my own family wasn't proud of me, but instead found me selfish. If you come from the stereotypical Hispanic family that fits perfectly into the criminalized and lazy stigmas the world created, then expect some backlash when you try to be different. The word "selfish" hits me hard deep to my core.
Not many saw the hard work I put into graduating a year early while playing sports, working part-time, going to school full-time, and doing homework for classes I needed to graduate high school past 3 a.m.
As a result of my hard work, I obtained multiple academic scholarship offers from many schools, and I chose the scholarships that paid for the entirety of my undergraduate education. I wanted to go to college so badly that even if I didn't get a scholarship, I was willing to do anything to pay for my education. I was willing to work all day, stay up all night doing homework, and sacrifice my social life for an education.
I was willing to put in the work for something that I earned on my own, and that was enough power for me to walk away from the backhanded comments of my family.
I sacrificed a lot to be awarded my scholarships. I knew the rules. I followed the rules, and exceeded the rule maker's expectations. I received my scholarships because I earned my scholarships. I didn't stand on street corners protesting that higher education be free.
Although, free college and free money would help a sista' out as she attends grad school, but then my degree wouldn't have meant as much to me if it were handed to me without reward. My hard work would have only paid for a selfish life of lavish dining, expensive housing, and a carefree mindset.
Even today, as I prepare for my graduate education, I am willing to spend the next two years of life without sleep, and work at jobs I hate to pay for my Masters degree.
As a millennial, I do not believe I am entitled to free college education, I believe I can earn a free college education.
