As a member of the millennial generation, I am constantly told or over-hearing about just how "terrible" our generation is. "Millennials are so lazy." "Millennials don't know what hard work is." "Millennials are so disrespectful." "Millennials think they're just entitled to everything." These are just a few of the many insults that millennials get as a whole everyday, but let me assure you that we "millennials" are most definitely not all the same. I can agree that some millennials are lazy, disrespectful and do think they're entitled, but there are still plenty of us who are not lazy, who are respectful and who know that you must work for what you want. We have jobs, we graduate college, we care for more than just ourselves and we are productive members of society. I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Oh great, another millennial whining about how life isn't fair." Well let me just say that this is not a "poor me" kind of article. I was taught from a young age that life isn't fair and I completely understand that. It simply is an article to say that we millennials are not all the same, and us millennials who are productive members of society are tired of being grouped with the millennials who are not. Some of us do still believe in discipline, have aspirations for our future, can still have a full face-to-face conversation and know good music when we hear it. Some of us just can't let a Jimmy Buffett, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson or The Temptations tune come on without belting it out.

Now, let's take a minute to thank all the "non-helicopter parents"— the parents who were a parent and not a best friend, the parents who gave a solid butt-whoopin' when needed, the parents who pushed us to always do our best, the parents who taught us to respect everyone regardless of age, skin color, gender or religion, the parents who showed us from an early age that you won't win at everything and the parents who, no matter what, always loved us unconditionally. These are the parents that raised the productive millennials. You can blame the millennials forever, but let's all remember that a child is only a reflection of what their parents teach them to be.