Oh, to be a millennial. This is a generation of people who supposedly reach adulthood within the 2000s. Also known as Generation Y and also following Generation X (whatever that means?). We are a demographic of young adults categorized within a label. It's a bit odd to consider when I contemplate that I am in my thirties and I cannot in any way, shape or form relate to millennials in their twenties.

Millennials do get a bad rap. I guess that's why I can't really relate to the generation and I don't see any of my peers as millennials necessarily either. I don't really know what the exact symptoms of being a millennial are...but according to the stereotypes put out there, I just don't see people who are teetering at the top of the generation being even close to behaving like the alleged label insinuates we do. So, I won't lie. I cringe at being considered a millennial. Yes, I know it should be an empowering phrase rather than an insulting one. But younger millennials just don't know the other side of what it means to us golden oldie millies.

The things I did a decade ago are fond memories and boy, I didn't hesitate to do them at all then either. Fraternity party? There. Homecoming beer pong? There too. Hangovers and 8 a.m. classes? Been there as well.

But at that point in time, I was in a generation who didn't know social media. Facebook came to my college when I was a senior. I didn't worry about my life moments showing up on Instagram or Snapchat. I lived in the moment and it was for me. Not for an audience of followers to gain attention and likes. For that, I am pretty grateful. Sure those photos exist, but they are on disposable cameras probably yet to be developed.

Our technology was little Motorola RAZR phones in hot pink, of course. Texting was a new thing. Even though I had a cell phone since I was 15, it had been for emergencies. It wasn't my babysitter or my entertainment (even though it kind of is now). I didn't sit in my dorm room and binge watch Netflix.

I studied, I learned, I played intramurals, I was in a sorority, I went to a party or two (I lost count), I participated in philanthropies, I graduated with a degree and while I was stressed out over finals, there was no way that I could relate finals week to every episode of "Friends" or "Grey's Anatomy." My friends didn't whine to each other. It wasn't the worst thing ever. We just put one foot in front of the other, worked together and got through it. We worked hard even though we really didn't want to at times.

Flat out, as an older millennial, my time in college was spent interacting with my peers without a computer screen between us or a thousand pictures to capture our crazy antics. At the time, it was a weird concept to think about: Moving over 200 miles away from home to completely dedicate my life to studying and learning for four years. Good Lord, it was tough! It's like being thrown into adulting without having a clue what I was doing.

When I thought of adulting, I thought there were surely things I would know how to do. Change a tire? Pfft. I knew the number for AAA. Balance a checkbook? Get real. My online balance fluctuates every time I check it even when it is three times a day. Have a clue at all what would exist beyond earning a Bachelor's degree? "As if!" (That showed my age). To the millennials out there who think college is tough and is the worst ever, it's not. It was hard but it was amazing. I would go back in a heartbeat. The experiences and the friendships and just the personal growth...Oh, yeah and all of the fun...I mean, seriously, at one point in time I lived with 60 of my closest friends in a sorority house. At the time, that might have been pretty annoying but in reality, that was the best two and a half years of my life!

See, as an older millennial, I still think I have a bit of an old soul in comparison to newer millennials on the other end of the spectrum of the demographic. I even remember discussions that didn't start with, "Did you see on Facebook where...?" The term 'millennial' is often given a negative connotation in society which I can't relate to. Can I sense it in this demographic? Absolutely. (Entitlement, silver spoon, expect everything to be done for you, lazy...) Does it pertain to me? Not necessarily (but maybe sometimes...I'm not at all perfect). And honestly, everyone I know who I consider a peer has outgrown all of that or never behaved like that at all even though they are considered 'millennials' also.

No, instead on the upper end of being a millennial, I call my best friends to have a chit chat and we reminisce about the best four years of our lives. We laugh at the stupid stuff we did because we have memories instead of photos plastered online. However, my best friends have mommy Tourette's and while this is not in any way to disregard someone with actual diagnosed Tourette's, it is still a thing. A conversation with a friend goes completely fine and then I respond and there is a pause and I hear my mommy friend on the other side respond with, "Dammit! Put that down! Quit hitting your brother." Within the next moment, mommy comes back and responds to what I said. (Yes, you should say thanks to your moms. They really are multi-faceted creatures with a heck of a talent.)

Coming out of college didn't mean people were waiting to hand me over a job. It was quite the opposite. You apply for something that sounds amazing and you don't have the years of professional experience. You apply for a position that's entry level and realize with a degree, you're actually over-qualified. You aren't, however, over-qualified to be a barista at a coffee shop, evidently.

You realize that oh, bloody goodness! You're an adult... with no job... a whole lot of debt...and now you are responsible for everything in your life. The best parents ever (which mine are) help out but it's true that many can't afford to be as helpful as mine. When I needed money for rent, I still relied on my parents a lot. And as much of an adult as I thought I was at 22, I realized I wasn't anyone special in comparison to everyone else. (Yes, you are special. But you are special just like everybody else.)

It wasn't until 25 that I started to figure out who I was. I was only starting to figure it out. Plus, even a few years later (more than I will claim), I'm still learning. I don't talk to my friends while we cry over breakups or OMG pregnancy tests or bad grades. We cry over their divorces or the babies who should've been but weren't and job layoffs which have spun their lives into a financial havoc.

I'm an older millennial and I don't feel like a millennial at all. I'm not sure I know how to adult though either. You would think that by this time in your thirties, you'd have everything figured out. You don't and you won't. I'm sorry, young millennials. I am not disregarding you at all. But as an older millennial, I simply have very little in common with you and sometimes I wonder why we are even grouped in the same demographic?

Basically, what I'm saying is that us older millennials are completely different than the younger millennials. A decade of age might separate us but our ideals sometimes seem as though they are 100 years apart. However, I truly believe that there are some bright and intelligent young people who are going to embark on the world and make wonderful Presidents, artists, educators and game show hosts.

Thanks, society. I'm not every bit of a millennial that you have labeled me to be...at all. Just like every other label society uses to distinguish our identities, sometimes we just can't relate to the stereotype we have been given. Call me an old millennial any day. Just don't assume I am a silver-spooned, lazy, Netflix binging, self-entitled being. And honestly, I doubt most millennials are either. We just are more worried about our 401K accounts rather than our Hulu accounts.

I do believe, however, that it is up to us and those even before us, to leave the world in better hands than when we received it. I have faith that we will.

I'm still hip. Just not as cool as I once was. But, as the young'n say, YOLO. (To my age group, that means you only live once...it's OK. I had to look it up too). I'll go write that on my mirror as my positive affirmation for the day.