It's becoming more and more apparent that we live in a world ruled by stereotypes. Before we can even get to know someone, we already have preconceived notions about what kind of person they are. Whether it's where they grew up, where they went to school, or even what their last name is, all it takes is a small amount of information for us to immediately make assumptions about a person. It's even gotten to the point in my life where I've actually made it one of my News Years resolutions to stop pretending I know someone before I meet them (not a bad one if you want to make it one of yours as well).

The one group that I want to talk about in particular is Millennials.

And before you start rolling your eyes thinking this is just another article from a kid bitching about being disrespected, let me explain to you exactly who I am and where I'm coming from. Once you understand me a little better, you'll why I'm writing about this.

In a few short months, I'll be graduating and joining the workforce. I'm deep in the interviewing and networking process doing my best to land a job when I graduate. A job, mind you, in a world where a college degree means less than it ever has before. I’m spending all my time applying and interviewing with companies who want to see years of experience for jobs that I need in order to actually gain experience. It’s like needing a key to get into your house, but the key is locked in the house.

On top of this, I'm also taking a full semester of some of the hardest courses I've ever taken in school. Oh, and working two jobs to try and help pay off some of the obscene amount of money that I've spent on a fancy piece of paper from NC State.

But you want to hear the real kicker? I'm not a special case. In fact, I have it pretty damn easy compared to some kids. The vast majority of my closest friends in college are going through the same exact thing I am with just as much adversity, if not more. College students all across the country are staring down the real world as it charges toward them at full force. But we are not backing down. We are standing our ground and getting ready to face it with all we've got. We've busted our ass for years getting the grades, internships, connections, and recognition that we need to hit the ground running when we get out.

So why on earth are we considered the laziest generation to date? Why are we seen as entitled brats who don't know what "real work" is? Why does the world look down on Millennials?

I'll tell you why.

Because stereotyping is the world's favorite pastime.

Instead of actually getting to know us individually, everyone categorizes us into one group that fits their world view.

THEY LET THE ACTIONS OF A FEW DICTATE THEIR OPINIONS OF THE WHOLE.

They would rather take a handful of outlying examples and cite them as the reason they hold the ideals they do about a group. (NOTE: This doesn't just apply to Millennials. All stereotypes stem from this way of thinking.) I’ve met some individuals my age with work ethics that are almost inhuman. Sadly, no one wants to give these kids the credit they deserve.

Now, I wouldn't be presenting a good argument if I only addressed one side of the story. So let's talk a minute about those who actually DO fit the Millennial stereotype. The kids who think the world owes them something. The ones who actually don't know what real hard work is and have spent their whole lives cruising off their parents' success. The ones who go out and party every chance they get and then start bitching when things don't go their way.

Yeah, those kids.

I’m not here saying that they don’t exist because they certainly do. They are the very reason everyone looks down on Millennials. But I do want to talk about them for a second here.

I don’t want you to think I am defending them in any way, but I don’t believe they are entirely to blame. Yes, it’s true that everyone needs to be held accountable for their own actions and these kids are no exception. However, it’s interesting to me that no one ever thinks about the role their parents played in raising them. These kids didn’t just come out of the woods one-day wearing vineyard vines shirts and driving new Jeep. I do believe that their upbringing played a huge role in turning them into who they are and more parents need to be held accountable for this entitlement epidemic (Side note: If anyone is looking for an alternative rock band name, I think I just made one.)

For example, let’s examine this “Participation trophy” problem that many like to cite as the reason Millennials act the way they do. The argument goes that we are entitled because we were always given medals and trophies as kids, even if we didn’t really do an. We were given these participation awards throughout our lives and now we all think the world owes us something just for being alive. Yeah, the logic is pretty sound but there’s a part that everyone seems to overlook. We weren’t giving these trophies to ourselves, we were given them. It was the generation of parents that raised us who was giving us these awards for showing up. These kids were raised by parents who could not say no to them and now their view of the world is all askew. The same generation that complains about Millennials is the one who created them. It’s like throwing a bunch of dried grapes in your batter and then getting pissed when you bite into a fresh baked oatmeal raisin cookie because you were expecting chocolate chip.

We have a generation of parents who didn’t take responsibility for their actions, which has given rise to a generation of kids who now do the exact same thing. You plant onions, you grow onions.

My friends and many of the kids my age who fall under the category of Millennial are some of the smartest, hardest working individuals I’ve ever met in my life. I’m also willing to bet that the number of hard-working Millennials far outnumbers the truly lazy ones across the country. But, because of popular stereotypes, no one wants to give them any credit. There are obviously still plenty of lazy and entitled brats out there and I am in no way giving them an out here. What I’m saying here is that if you’re going to call us the “participation trophy” generation, you have to at least acknowledge that you were the one’s giving us those trophies.

Now, I know I don’t speak for everybody, but I am proud to have been born in the time I was. Proud and grateful. Despite being faced with an overwhelming amount of obstacles, I also know that I have been very blessed in my life. Being born and raised in this era has opened the door to so many different opportunities for me that were simply not available to the generations before. There is obviously a lot of work separating me from my goals, but because I was lucky enough to be brought up when and where I was, those goals have become immensely easier for me to achieve. We Millennials have been given a great opportunity and I hope we can all recognize and capitalize on it.