Skyscrapers are extremely cool buildings. They tower over everything around them and fit thousands of people in one space. It is very hard to wrap my mind around the idea of a building so tall. The only big problem I have with skyscrapers is that they take a lot of attention away from the little buildings that surround them. To me, these little buildings are much more significant.
No, I’m not writing a literal interpretation of buildings. This is a metaphor for these ridiculous stereotypes that float around the world, specifically at a university. On any given campus, there will always be “skyscrapers." You know what I’m talking about here. There are the fraternity guys that drink beers all the time and talk to 10 girls at the same time. There are the school athletes who don’t do their own homework and are always at the gym. And, of course, how could I talk about stereotypes and not go into something about the nerds? These are the kids who don’t have fun on weekends and just do homework all the time.
I’d love to know if you actually know anybody right now that falls exactly into those stereotypes. Here is the point of this in its most simple form. Stereotypes are stupid and irrelevant. I think I am a living example of this. I am in a fraternity, and yet I spend the majority of my time focused on school. Of course I take some time off on the weekends and enjoy the presence of my friends, but I consider myself a nerd a lot of the time. I am a journalism major, yet I take classes in the theater hall and love it. It’s not often that you find a guy that goes to see movies by himself because being alone isn’t so bad. (Refer to last week’s piece.)
The big thing about stereotypes is that, while they may be accurate in some cases, they aren’t all there is to a person. I will admit that I could be classified as a typical “frat guy” at times, but there is so much more to me. And there is so much more to all of you as well. One of my least favorite things in the world is when people get offended by a stereotype. Really? Even if you are a stereotype, you are far more than just that. Don’t get mad at who you are, embrace it.
Finally, besides technical physics, which says we can’t be in several buildings at the same time; obviously, everyone is going to be in one or two skyscrapers, but there are so many little apartment buildings and shopping centers surrounding those skyscrapers. I like to think everyone has a physical presence in at least a few different buildings. And when you’re in those buildings, make sure to look up to the skyscraper and admire the beauty of it; don’t shame the size.
