It’s a cycle: a man meets a woman, they fall in love, build a family, and then try to do everything in their power to give their children a better life than they had. Sometimes their end of the bargain means setting ridiculously high expectations for their kids, arguing that they will live up to their potential.

Well mom and dad, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that your valedictorian in high school has become an average college student, and that scholarships did not get thrown at me like you said they would. I’m sorry that I hate working; that I would rather submerge myself into my classes and culture than make any money right now. And I am so sorry that I have absolutely no idea how to make it in this world with my crazy dreams.

But I am not really sorry.

Your generation viewed this world in a completely different light. You were the post-hippies, rebuild America, far right conservatives that are trying to return this country to the “better days”. But I am not. I’m the millennial psych major trying to understand every single angle, see the other point of views. I want to spend my life fighting for all of us underdogs versus the middle class white man. And I may be sorry for always challenging your opinions, but I am not sorry for not being a die hard Republican.

I am also sorry you do not understand art, but I am not sorry that I do. I don’t know how it became such a force in my life, but I am so thankful it did. Art is the one thing in this world that doesn’t need to be defined or worried about, it is natural and raw and became a part of my identity. I know you’re convinced that it isn’t enough to support me someday, but that’s okay. I’m sorry you’re scared for my future, but I’m not scared.

I know you want me to have things figured out. You set me on the straight and narrow years ago, and in your eyes I may have wandered. I hope you know that I am not out to mess things up, but I can't stand to live a life that doesn't mean something to me. We may not see eye to eye on very much these days, but I still need your love and support. You will always be my biggest fans, I hope I don't let you down.