Let’s be real, stereotypes rule the world. We all say, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” but when you go to the bookstore, that’s exactly how you decide which book you’re going to buy. Life is no different. In this store, I mean in this place called university, we see literally hundreds of faces a day, but stereotypes can decide for us who we speak to. We don’t know them, but with just one look at them, we write them off as that guy that is definitely going to prison or that girl that’s gonna marry the 159-year-old guy for “love”.
Perhaps, I should be telling you to fight against this, but here are some examples so you know them when you see them.
1. The Super-Jock
These super jocks come with the most beautiful bods you will ever see and smiles that envy the sunshine, but their egos are not sold separately. They are larger than life, larger than you and I, and they can touch the sky if they go on their tippy toes (Literally. Ha.). For all you One Tree Hill fans out there, picture Nathan before Haley. For those of you who have absolutely no idea what that means –cue the music– “you wasn’t wit him shooting in the gym…UNGH” and girl, he knows it.
2. The Made-Up Gym-goer
When I go to the gym, I expect to sweat and look disgusting, but get in shape. Perhaps this particular stereotype has learned something I have yet to in the world, but this is not what working out looks like to me. Some will call me bitter perhaps, others will say I am jealous, but the sane of you out there can agree that this is NOT what a real workout looks like. How many times have you walked in the gym to see a girl with a freshly applied, full face of make-up and you’re there like… come on bro, come on. I repeat, this is not what working out looks like!
3. The Dedicated Journalist
Forgive me in advance for the bias, being a journalism major myself, but any male you see with glasses and a pen behind his ear is perfection. Of course, these are by no means absolute ways to identify journalists. However, you’ll be right to assume he is one more often than not. This guy will tear your heart to pieces with his intellect and articulate speech. It’ll be hard to pry him from his books, newspapers, poetry, or whatever his literature of choice is, but I promise once you do, his confounding belief systems, world knowledge and overall know-how will woo you out of your…mind.
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4. The Flirty Girl in The Front Row
As a general rule, the front seats are reserved for those super-serious about the course. Sometimes, however, you may find Flirty Girl there. She’s the one who twirls her hair and bats her eyelashes at the prof in the most bashful way and laughs a decibel too loudly at his joke that wasn’t funny. She’s entertaining though, and usually no harm. Plus, she hangs on his every word so she’s usually a good person to ask for a play-by-play of the lecture you dozed off in.
5. The Super Chill Sk8r Boi
He’s just a rebel to the world with no place to go. So he kicks and pushes…kicks and pushes. Duuuuuuuuuuude is rad. Simply put. Nothing, like, even totally matters in life to him, ya know, like…more than his board but duuuuuude. These guys are probably the most obvious because they’ll zoom past you and make your hair blow in the wind. Just because he’s a skater boy don’t say see you later boy, don’t think he’s not good enough for you. Soon he’ll be a superstar, way more famous than you are, then what will you do? You labelled him a misfit, a bandit just because you couldn’t understand it. Okay okay, enough of the song references, these boys are just, like totally rad. Feel me guys?
6. The Always-Drunk Permaparty Girl
I don’t think I need to explain who she is. This girl is a hoot at parties and the first person you call when you need a good night out…but you wouldn’t generally invite her to Sunday dinner. Allow me to suggest that you don’t judge her too harshly for her …“loosey goosey” tendencies, if you will, because she will get her act together eventually.
Maybe you’ve seen some of these people around campus already or maybe you’re so excited that you’re going to go search for them now, whatever the case may be always remember as Margaret Atwood said, “The civilised world is a zoo not a jungle. Stay in your cage.” Translation? We’re all animals, just trained ones. Keep to yourself and don’t judge. Oh. Also, don’t feed the monkeys.