"I'm not spoiled, but that's OK." This is my response to an article recently circulating around called "I'm Spoiled: Stop shaming me." A brief synopsis of the article: it is basically all about a college student saying that people need to stop shaming her because her parents are rich. She says to stop judging her because her parents actually want to give her nice things. They don't want work to get in the way of her schooling because school is a full-time job. They don't want her grades to slip because of work. Stop shaming her because she has the freedom to "make mistakes."

Please.

This was one of the most pathetic things I have ever read.

It's great that you have a lot of money and that your parents can provide you with what you want, but if you have to write an article about it I think there may be some boasting going on. Be humble. If your parents can afford to financially support you while you're in school, that's great for them. But I think this was more or less an article about you shaming other people because they don't have money.

Let's put it this way:

My parents love me a lot. I know they love me because they show it, they provide for our family, they care about us kids, and they do whatever they can to make us happy. If they could afford to financially support me, they probably would. It's not that my parents don't want to give me everything, it just isn't realistic. I know I can speak for a lot of people when I say that. They love me with their whole heart, but they know I am an adult and they can't provide for me the way they did when I was little.

There are times when I have called my mom crying because I was so stressed about balancing work, a field placement, 18 credits, working out, and balancing a social life. And guess what? I kicked ass balancing all that and got almost all A's. My parents are so proud of that. I, along with many of my peers, are living proof that you can, in fact, balance responsibility and schoolwork.

Now, to stop making this article all about myself. Don't shame other people because their families cannot afford the life you have. People come from all different types of backgrounds, and I am not shaming you because you have a lot of money. I am shaming you because of the way you handled your article.

Real life is learning that sometimes you'll be exhausted because working while in school is exhausting, but you'll learn time management. Real life is learning that not everything goes your way, but it'll make you a stronger person. Real life is not getting paid until the end of the week and if you run out of money at the beginning of the week all you'll have to eat is an easy mac. Real life is knowing that people come from all different types of backgrounds, but accepting that is OK. At the end of the day, it isn't about how much money you have, it's about how hard you have worked for what you have. You can have everything, but if you're the most ignorant person in the world, what do you really have?

"They do these things because they love me and want the best. In their eyes, the best parenting style is to help their kids become successful and reach the point to where we can be self-sufficient."

This by far was the most appalling and ignorant quote of the whole article. My parents are helping me become successful, and they do love me, and they do want the best for me. Don't assume that because someone's parents can't afford to spoil them with everything on the face of the Earth doesn't mean they don't love them. It honestly hurts a little bit to read that.

"You learn professional social skills at a job, not everyday social skills."

Lastly, this is probably one of a hilarious quotes from the entire article. Hilariously ignorant. I actually learned both professional and everyday social skills at my customer service job. I learned how to work collaboratively with my co-workers and interact with customers. I learned how to bite my tongue when a customer was being unfair and how to put forth my best effort in assisting their needs. I think I do a pretty good job with that, too. Having a job makes you more confident in your everyday social skills because people take you more seriously if you know how to interact.

I'm thankful my parents have taught me to work hard, respect others, and be aware of the world around me. They do want what's best for me. I'm not spoiled, but I can't complain about what I do have. I wouldn't trade it for anything.