There are numerous articles across the internet written by girls who are either bitter that their parents don't help them with basic expenses, as well as articles written by girls who are ~blessed~ with parents who work hard so they don't have to. I like to think of myself as in the middle of these girls.

Yes, my parents give me what I want, but not all of the time.

Yes, my parents just bought me a brand new car, but I had to put the hefty down payment on it.

Yes, my parents pay my phone bill, but they only do it if I'm excelling in school.

If I EVER drain my bank account to the point where I can't pay for my phone, my hair, nails, etc., they won't back me up. They aren't there to save my A$$ when I blow my money they give me on shopping and other "dumb things."

Yes, I'm spoiled immensely by my parents, but it's because I deserve it. Which, therefore makes "being spoiled" a reward for my hard work. In the summer I work fifty plus hours a week at two different jobs. I pay my own bills and expenses in the summertime, and when I am in school in the fall, I bust my butt to maintain my 4.0 GPA. Now, what's so wrong with being rewarded by the things that I have for working so hard?

Well, if you're asking me, there's nothing wrong with being rewarded. It would be different if I were taking the money my parents give me and using it on alcohol or drugs. I'm not doing that, so don't shame me for having money and going out to eat or shopping.

I'm genuinely sorry that you aren't as privileged as I am, but trust me when I say that I don't get things handed to me on a silver platter. I know what hard work is and what it means to struggle, believe me.

You can call me spoiled, entitled, snobby, bratty, etc., but in the end, I don't care what you have to say about me or my lifestyle.

I don't take advantage of my parents or family and their resources. What I do, is take advantage of Chick-Fil-A and IHOP. What's so wrong with that? Are you going to sit here and shame me for this? Really?

My point here is that it doesn't matter which end of the spectrum you're on. Whether your parents support you financially or not, shaming someone who does or doesn't get help from their parents isn't something that should be allowed.

We all work hard for the things that we have and I'm not here to say my parents work harder than yours, but rather that sometimes, no matter how hard you do work, certain lifestyles just simply don't fit with your bank account. Not like a bank account should define you because it shouldn't.

Afterall, what really defines us as humans? Money? Privilege? Society? Whatever it may be, we can't let it define who we are and where we are headed in life.