“I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it.”

“The truth is I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was.”

“I want to grow old without facelifts. I want to have the courage to be loyal to the face I've made.”

“I'm not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.”

Sadly, this quote is still as relevant today as it was in the starlet’s prime. Marilyn Monroe rose to fame in a world run by men for men, and because of this state of things, she was never given true credit for her achievements. In the eyes of the world, Marilyn’s promiscuity was the sole reason accredited for helping her reach her goal of fame and stardom. While women today hold top positions in a variety of sects -- media, economics, and politics -- there are the ones who will give their femininity the credit for their success rather than the unmatched talent and intelligence these women possess. Marilyn was born in 1926 into a world run by men. It is 2016, and the female gender is still held to a lower standard than the male gender.

I spent a long time feeling guilty for people’s impression of me, but these wise words from the late Monroe gave me a new and improved outlook on this situation. Why should I blame myself for other people’s stereotyping of me? Strangers will take one look at me and immediately dismiss me as a physical or intellectual threat, but rather than wishing they would give me credit, I now know to use their small-mindedness as a stepping-stool to my own success.

In a generation of cosmetic advances, it is easy to find solace in the fact that we may never have to get old. Facelifts and Botox and tummy tucks and veneers and a plethora of other surgeries give men and women the option to stay ageless. Marilyn, who was praised for her beauty and seen by many as a sex symbol, was never given the opportunity to grow old, but this quote allows us to reasonably infer that she would have aged gracefully and naturally -- something that I now endeavor to do.

As a young college freshman encountering the costs of entering “the real world”, I found myself drowning in financial thoughts and worries. I was simple-mindedly caught up in the thought of overwhelming fortune. It was not until later that I stopped to breathe, realizing -- as this quote suggests -- that having money does not equal having happiness. My goal is now to live a full and happy life and to know that exuberant money does not necessarily buy exuberant joy.