Stereotypical Assumptions

Today's culture is submerged in association with a select group, or "stereotype": hipsters, punks, white girls, stoners, jocks, ect. Recently I've become deafeningly aware of any girl who drinks Starbucks, is stamped a "white girl". Or anyone who wears Kobe Bryant's is a "jock". What about the people who like Starbucks coffee because of its convience and specialty latte varieties? What about the surfers out there who love the ocean that don't smoke pot? Why does our society feel the craving to be associated in specific categories of people who all mindlessly agree with anything that fit their stereotype? 

In the days of my middle school ignorance, I tried to fit into several select groups; all of them resulting in awkward phases that I now laugh about. But now that I've matured, I can step back and appreciate the individuality of certain people. One doesn't need to "fit in" with a group to have friends; if I had realized this in my younger years, it would have saved many an insecure moment. 

Today, I neither call myself a hipster nor a white girl; despite the fact that I enjoy passing time in a coffee house, while posting a picture of my latte on Instagram with hashtags. There's certainly enough youth out there who struggle with where their identity lies; the pressure of fitting to a stereotype hinders from the important things in life.