Throughout life you meet many different types of people .  All during elementary school I had one friend , my best friend . Her and I were known as the best friends . We were also known as being intimidatingly smart , well , as intimidating as third graders can be . With this , we both weren’t in the main elementary school “ click “ that everyone dreamed to be apart of . We never thought of why at the time , just that we only talked to each other . Then there was everyone else . With us being really smart , we were also both really shy . Now if you talk to me you would never even guess , but back then ,  I was too terrified to get to know anyone else .

Even ever since the third grade stereotypes were being made on people . People being pre assumed on the way they act , what they wear , how intelligent they are or aren’t . Kids who presume are unawaringly being trained into prejudice adults . Glancing at someone for a few seconds does not give you a full idea of who they are . I was pre assumed since I had good grades that I was bland , boring , weird , and uninteresting to talk to . I knew at third grade this wasn’t right , but I wasn’t sure what was going on either.  It was all new territory for myself .

 Now I am a sophomore in high school , and what happened to me in third grade is just a small scale example of what happens daily . Freshman year , I ran for ASB , I am this year as well as last year Vice President for my class . Shyness now isn’t really in my vocabulary . I do get quiet at times , since I was always shy ever since I was a kid , but nowhere near as extreme . I started to change my influence in style to what my older cousins wore . I always loved fashion and felt inspired by them . In freshman year , I became more outgoing , wearing trendy clothes , and talking to more people . Many people stereotyped me and I didn’t even realize it at first . Assuming my work wasn’t done , pre assuming my personality on how kind I treated others , and assuming that school isn't my top priority . I became so lost in what other people said about me , I forgot who I actually am . This didn’t last long though . Now it is sophomore year , and this prejudice against women , or anyone who doesn’t fit all the character traits that matches to the  “ stereotypical smart kid “ can’t continue . I shouldn’t have to prove my intelligence .

 In this day and age , it is still the same . Back in 1919 , when women got the right to vote after many years of government , it should never just stop there . In 1963 , when women finally receive equal pay , it should never stop there . In 1973 , when a “ women’s only “ military branch is eliminated , it should never stop there . Recently , in 2009 when the Lilly Ledbetter fair pay act was signed to prevent paying discrimination , we didn’t stop there .

These are all amazing milestones , but my point is that if I look a certain way , was a certain age , or even acted a certain way , people would pre assume that I was unaware of these . Or that I was uninterested in learning more about politics , writing , math , business , any drive for having more knowledge .

Knowledge is important to me , I strive to learn more , to become more educated in whatever I set my mind to . I noticed with some of my teachers last year , they pre assumed and mixed my enthusiasm in lacking of care for education . It shouldn’t matter if girls who enjoy dressing up and putting makeup on that they don’t want to receive an education . It shouldn’t matter if their parents have a nice house and a well paying job that our expectation for work ethic should be any less . It shouldn’t matter if your personality doesn’t match the stereotype of what you set your mind to achieve .

 I know my goals , I know how much knowledge I have already gained . I know how much capability I have of being even brighter than I can imagine . It takes more to just talk about this issue , but to follow through on changing these presumptions . To encourage young growing minds , even if it is in the third grade , to ask questions . Instead of categorizing kids into different groups , to become together , and to not be afraid of showing your capabilities .  I hope this issue gets talked about more , more people realize it is not a status quo, and to react on it . To change these stereotypes for everyone.