The University of Chicago’s Dean of Students, John Ellison P.h.D, recently wrote a letter to all incoming freshman stating that the University will no longer support “trigger warnings” or “safe spaces” in the coming years and it has caused an all out war on the internet. A “Safe Space” is, “a place where anyone can relax and be able to fully express, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, or unsafe on account of biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious affiliation, age, or physical or mental ability.” Though the idea of a safe space is great; I mean who wouldn’t want a place where everyone is accepted and happy, but let's be real it is wildly and entirely unrealistic. College is an institution to prepare young adults for the real world they will soon be entering and you're dreaming if you think there are “safe spaces” and “trigger warnings” out there.

We live in a world full of political correctness and sensitivity to the point where I feel as though I have to tiptoe around everything and everyone in order to not get yelled at or told off by my peers; Whatever happened to the old, sticks and stones motto. Today children and teens are way too coddled and sheltered which makes for over sensitive young adults who don’t believe in freedom of speech unless it helps their own agendas. Honestly, if you can’t handle a guest speaker who doesn’t agree with you, topics that are intense and call for debate, or just someone hurting your feelings maybe you shouldn’t be at college at all, maybe you should have stayed home in your safe space.

This may all be harsh but it's reality. After your years in college are up there will be no more safe spaces. Your boss will not care if they hurt your feelings, offend you or make you feel useless. That's how the world works and you just have to live with it and move on! Everyone has been through something that may "trigger" certain memories or events when brought up or talked about but eventually you have to leave the past in the past because some things cannot be changed, you just have to adapt. As a whole, us millennials need to thicken our skin and prepare for the real world ahead of us so we can be remembered as a strong generation instead of a weak, over emotional, over sensitive one.