Losing Your Friends

Have you ever just kind of drifted apart from your friends?  I have been lately, in the past few months.  I mean, I have changed a bit, but they just haven't accepted me.  I feel like I've grown up a lot and they haven't.

In high school, there were four of us that hung out like all the time.  The guy in the group kind of ditched us after high school, but no big deal.  Then there were the three of us and we were still pretty close during our first year of university even though we didn't see each other much.  They were really supportive of me when I was having a tough time that year.

After that year, I switched to college.  Since then, my relationship with them has been really downhill.  I don't think they like that I went to college (since university is considered the "smarter" of the two).  But I'm still smart.  I mean, I'm the top of my class here at college.  But I think they didn't really like that I switched (even though I hated and was horrible at my program at university).

Then I broke up with my boyfriend of almost three years.  Then I slept with another guy.  They both like guys and everything but they have never really had serious relationships or anything before (and defintely never had sex).  They thought I was just using this guy to get over my ex.  Honestly he was just using me for sex at first too!  But it ended up going well and I've been dating this guy for over a year.  The point is, they just judge me for this.  Maybe sex is a big deal for them.  It's different for me.  Like it is important but I'm not just going to wait for years or something.  That's not me.

They also seemed upset when I started partying a bit more.  The thing is, I'm maintaining friends at college, I'm at the top of my class, I'm working three part time jobs, and I've got a great boyfriend.  Everything else is going well.  So what if I go out and party every other weekend?  What else should I do?  I could study but I can't do much better than I'm doing now anyway.  And even if I wasn't partying over the weekend, I certainly wouldn't be studying!

I get it, friends drift apart.  But I just don't get why the two of them are just judging me so much.  We were best friends for years.  We supported each other.  We had fun together.  All good!

I guess things change.  I have new friends.  They have new friends.  I keep some old friends of course.  I'm not sure when it's time to move on from them though.

Lazy Kids

Are kids really lazy nowadays?? I don't think all kids are. How ageist to say such a thing.

I heard these three older people (two men and one woman) on the bus complaining about how lazy young people are. I was sitting near them on my way to a friends to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child after a long day of work and studying. Really ... I was being lazy?? Who do they think they are talkng about? I'm sure they were referring to me as they kept looking at me and I do look fairly young for my age.

What a stereotype. I'm sure I'll have more to say about this when something else comes up. We aren't all lazy, just like all old people aren't smart. Is that a stereotypical thing to say?

I just really hate it when people make stereotypes. People in general. I know that I get stereotyped sometimes. But it drives me crazy. I don't consider myself lazy at all. I'm a full time college student who has a ridiculous amount of homework (and who still manages to be the top student). I'm working two part time jobs at my college and another job outside of that. I don't volunteer a lot but I give money when I can. I try to be a good person and all that. I hate being judged though.

Younger people get judged even more. Especially high school students. I'm sure that, if someone looks at my younger sister, they would stereotype her as a normal high school girl who goes out and parties and drinks all the time. First off, this is untrue. She prides herself in doing well in school. She has two jobs and she volunteers at a senior citizen home. She also plays competitive sports and other team sports. She does enjoy hanging out with her friends in her free time though. And besides, is it bad to go out and party on the weekends if you have the time and can afford it? I would say not. But that is a different topic, really.

The point is ... not all young people are lazy. Sure, there are some. But those people will likely grow up and still be lazy. It's not a trait of young people. It's a trait of certain people in general.

Think before you stereotype!