Why do people generalize me so much? Does anyone else ever experience this?

[Anonymous]

I get good grades because I want a good career. I am almost 22 and I have been working hard my whole life because I want to get ahead. I want to be able to buy a house and a car and afford vacations, I don't come from a rich family, so I have to work hard for what I want.

But apparently because I care a lot about school people are shocked that I drink occasionally. I had a few people just be like ":O Since when did you drink" It's kind of embarrassing since like I should be able to have a life and interests separate from my schooling. Just because I care about school doesn't meant I don't like to have fun.

Sure it's hard when I have to have good sleeping patterns through the week for college, but other than that I do try to fit in a social life. Why do people generalize me so much? Does anyone else experience this?

[jrose]

I have the same problem- because I'm dedicated to my studies and my family responsibilities people seem to think I never let loose and have fun or that I'm this innocent, niaeve person who's spent 20 odd years on the planet with her eyes closed. None of that is true of course- I do let loose occassionally, and I'm definitely not an innocent. I think people tend to generalize that way because of the culture of college/university- you're either into the hard-partying aspect of it, use it as a kind of extension of high school irresposibility, or you're the exact opposite. Most of the time, generalizations don't fit very many people well.

[TylerMMA]

I'm more surprised when people don't drink lol.