I am pretty much the definition of what many say is a "typical white girl." I love leggings, pumpkin spice, and oversized sweaters. My middle name is Marie, and you can catch me jamming out to Taylor Swift on any day of the week. I love Instagram, and taking selfies with my friends. According to most, I'm just "basic."

Being "basic" normally isn't something people want to be. We live in a society that is all about individuality and standing out from the crowd. While standing out from the crowd is good at times, I don't want to change the things I like just to strive for distinction from everyone else. I know so many people who struggled with losing their identity in the process of trying to find it. Because our culture puts so much emphasis on outward appearances, people struggle to simply be comfortable within themselves. They begin to deny their own likes and dislikes just for the sake of freeing themselves from the boxes in which society has them trapped.

Now, I'm not saying going against the status quo is always a bad thing, but just because someone doesn't naturally "go against the grain" it doesn't mean they are any less of a person. I cannot tell you how many times I have been shamed for being "typical" by people who didn't even know me. They refused to look past my comfort colors shirt and monogrammed hat to see that I am more than what I look like. Yes, leggings are comfortable and I honestly like the taste of coffee. I love Taylor Swift because I can relate to her songs. But when you look past the all the things that make me a "typical white girl", you will find a girl who loves football, the ukulele, and Jesus. You will find a girl that can probably out eat you in hot wings. A girl that collects crabs, loves to travel, and has dreams bigger than herself. You see, our society is so quick to judge. We forget that under all of our labels that we throw around, there are human beings. Souls who have more attributes to themselves than what meets the eye. So, no I'm not sorry for wearing my leggings and uggs, or commenting on that beautiful Jeep. I am sorry that you are so shallow of a person that you can't seem to move past labeling people into one group. I'm sorry that you won't take time to get to know me because you think I'm just a "typical" girl who has no individuality. I guess that's just your loss.