There is a lot of negativity regarding my generation of millennials. By definition, a millennial is someone who has come of age in the 21^st century, so pretty much anyone born between 1980 and 2000. But if you look beyond the definition, there are a lot of other qualities that are typically used by older generations to define a millennial.

Millennials are thought to be self-absorbed, authority-defying young adults who are obsessed with technology. We are either always on our phones or playing video games. We grow up too fast, and would rather be inside looking at the TV than outside playing in the fresh air. We are thought to be avid partiers who just drink and get high all the time. We think we know everything. The sad thing is, these are only a few of many examples of how we are categorized. Ultimately, we are thought to be lazy and irresponsible. Period.

These stereotypes do not represent me.

Any mistakes I have made are the same mistakes others before I have made. Mistakes are a part of growing up and being human. We all must learn how to make decisions, and that is done by making the wrong decision sometimes. I haven’t made any mistakes that the baby boomers in my life didn’t make at some point. So why is it so much worse when a millennial makes them? Why are we criticized so much more?

Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of my peers who represent the negative trademarks of a millennial perfectly. My point is that I am tired of being labeled with them. I am tired of adults assuming that I need to be told how to do everything and patronizing me. I am tired of being pegged as all-knowing with my computer and cell phone. In fact, most of the time I have to get my mom to show me how to fix something with my computer. I’m tired of being seen as a young woman who is in school for her Mrs. Degree and wanting to have kids already. I’m tired of being talked to like I am still 16 and in high school.

I am especially tired of adults that I don’t even know saying things like, “Oh you’re too young to know what heartbreak is." I am 21 and have been through enough heartbreak for a lifetime. And newsflash, heartbreak doesn’t just happen at the end of a romantic relationship. After talking with several friends, I got some amazing feedback about some things that are commonly said to them.

“You’re too young to know what you want to do with your life.”

"You don't know what it's like to struggle."

“How can you possibly run a store at 21? Do you even know how to be a manager?”

“Do you even know what the stock market is?”

“I bet your credit score sucks.”

“Don’t try to discuss politics; you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re too young to understand [insert any kind of issue here].”

Please stop assuming that you know what my political views are just because of my race, gender, and age. Please stop assuming that I can’t understand your point of view on a subject. Even if I don’t agree with you, I still want to hear and understand where you are coming from. Please stop assuming that I am entitled, and as a friend put it, “a part of the participation trophy era”. No, my daddy doesn’t pay for me to go to school, I do. I believe in earning what I want out of life. I worked my ass off to get where I am, as did many of my friends. Most of all, stop assuming that I think I know everything just because I am 21. I am well aware that I still have a lot to learn and a lot of life to live. For you to assume that I think I know everything tells me that you obviously still have some growing up to do yourself.

So now that I have ranted about the category I am automatically placed in, let me tell you who I am.

I am someone who was ALWAYS outside climbing a tree when I was a kid. I have always had my nose in a book. I love school, and I love having a job and working hard at it. If my phone is in my hand, I’m most likely reading news articles about current events. I have been known to go an entire day before realizing that I left my phone at home that morning. I have seen and felt abuse, and I never have to accept it because “that’s just the way they are.” I don’t party, nor do I need to drink to have a good time. On the rare occasion I do go out, I am usually the designated driver. I am usually in bed by 10:30, even on Saturdays. I am thankful to my single mother for all the sacrifices she has made for my brother and me. I get to go to college because I work two jobs to make it happen. I pay my bills, I have a better credit score than some 40 year olds, and I have a 3.5 GPA. I am not lazy. I am not irresponsible.

I am proud to be a millennial.