Stereotypes

The main stereotype that I have faced up to now is that I am a jock. I have always participated in many sports throughout my life. I wore my letter jacket a long with all of my closest buddies. I was a varsity football player dating a varsity cheerleader. From all this it obviously appeared as a jock. The true stereotype of a jock however is being dumb. Some of my closest buddies however and I took school very seriously. Some of my close friends received academic scholarships over athletic.
I think that I and others have accepted this stereotype is because we prove that it is not true. It does not personally concern me when I am called a jock. I feel the best way to stand out from your stereotype is to prove against it. I do not think a dumb jock could make it into Purdue. I consider myself a jock only because of my athletic career. I do not see my self as dumb. I think on the most part when someone calls you a jock however more often than not it is directed towards athletics. I worked year round for athletics. I feel that stereotypes are a negative thing, but if you do not work to prove yourself against it, if you do not want to be categorized in that stereotype, you will still be considered the same. I do not let it affect me when I am called a jock, because I know that I have appeared as one, but I work hard academically to prove that I am not.