Of all the exaggerated attitudes, fake realities and petty trials that present themselves haphazardly to an unsuspecting age group, the biggest misfortune, the biggest injustice, is the notion that we are all unable to deal with them. We all have sex before marriage, we all do drugs and drink alcohol, we all lack the word “”moderation”” in our vocabulary, and we all try to be “”cool”” like the guys in “”Jackass”” – or so it is said.

The fact that the majority of the older population believes that an entire generation of young adults can be put under a singular category, characterized by its irresponsibility and wanton nature, is a nauseating thought. The worst thing about being a “”young”” adult is the undeserved yet inevitable associations that come with the title. How is growth supposed to occur when the first societal encounter we all have is filled with the oppressive prejudices that older generations bestow upon the youth?

One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone’s mind is made up about me before I even have a chance to show him/ her otherwise. It parallels the annoyance of that inevitable question that immediately follows the rapid approach of two obnoxiously red-and-blue lights in your rear view mirror, “”Do you know how fast you were traveling, sir/ma’am?”” The answer is “”yes”” – in his head, he knows you were going ten over, so why does he ask? But you’ll answer yes, you’ll tell him you were doing 50 and he’ll answer, “”Yes, 50 in a 40.”” Tears of sweat will roll angrily down your face as he writes up the ticket and sends you on your merry way.

The simple fact of the situation is that he already had a preconceived notion about you before even approaching the car. He doesn’t care whether your grandpa’s on his deathbed and you’re just speeding up to see in him in his last five minutes. There’s no room for error, you’re just an irresponsible young “”hooligan.””

So what did we learn? We learned that the truth doesn’t set us free. So when this situation is reenacted with, for example, parents and their children, what is being taught? Holding every young adult to a widely accepted stereotype is counterproductive, to put it lightly.

Though it might not be challenging for someone to support the idea that young adults do not always posses the word ‘moderation’ in their vocabulary, to dwell on such deficiencies and attribute them to an entire generation is completely ignorant. Our generation is smart and, when given the opportunity, can be very reliable and trustworthy. We must not neglect our ability to act responsibly, but nourish it. When young adults make a mistake, they are subjected to the black-and-white reality created by their parents and the people around them. All young adults could be groomed into contributing, accountable adults much quicker if they were taught, instead of criticized, when at first, they didn’t succeed.

Though the prospect of “”error”” looming over our heads can be a little overwhelming at times, it’s not going to go away anytime soon. So rather than dwell on it, it is important to realize that the mistakes we make and the differences between one individual and another make each person unique and intelligent.

As clichéd as it may sound, you have to live with yourself for the rest of your life – no one else does – so forget the negative expectations set forth for you and blow someone’s mind. Since society’s pressures on young adults are relentless in their attack on our characters, it is up to us to be better people. Though doing things out of spite isn’t ideal, one day, we should all hope to look back on these years and see every regret and mistake as only a small picture in the beautiful mosaic that is us. And then when we’re done we can rub our fat paychecks in our critics’ faces!

– Isaac Mohr is a journalism freshman. He can be reached at
letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.