In society today, we are told a lot of different things that make us second-guess our choices in life. We're told to look a certain way, so we think twice before we go for that cookie. We're told we need to go to a prestigious college, so we take a minute to decide if we should study a little longer or go out with friends. Our lives are dictated by what society tells us because, at the end of the day, we all just want to be accepted.

Something I've noticed a lot lately is the way people just walk by homeless people without a second glance. From a young age, I was taught to believe all homeless people are actually rich and are just "acting" to get more money. What happens though when they're truly homeless and have no means of getting food, water and shelter? We are taught as children that homeless people are dangerous. What happens when they're actually some of the nicest people? We will never know because we are conditioned to not associate ourselves with them.

People say those who are homeless could get a job and make a better life for themselves, but they don't because they're lazy. What society doesn't realize is that homeless people don't have the resources or money to get a suit, haircut or shower to be presentable enough for a job interview. People who are well off don't understand, especially in today's economy, how difficult it can be to make a life for yourself out of absolutely nothing.

The funny part in all of this is, as a society, we look down on homeless people. We judge them for being homeless, we look at them with disgust, but homeless people will give, even if they have nothing, to help out another person.

We say, "don't judge a book by its cover," but isn't that exactly what we do to homeless people? We judge them for how they look. We don't get a chance to know that the guy sitting on the corner, begging for money might actually be a nice and decent human being.

Most of the time, homeless people started with a good life, they used to be a friend or a neighbor. However, something happened and now they're on the street asking for money.

The next time you see a homeless person, try and forget about everything you've been told to think. Instead, try imagining what it would be like to sit out on the street and beg for money. Imagine what it would be like to not have a shower, food or clothes every day.

For a minute, put yourself in their shoes. If everyone did that, as a society, we would become more accepting. Before you throw out your unopened bag of chips because you didn't want them, think about the homeless person on the corner. Those chips could change their day.