Age Is Just A Number

Countering stereotypes and mobilizing as a millennial.

By Katie McKee, Illustration by Jessica Wetterer

On a Saturday night, I open a bottle of wine, cook a big family dinner and settle in to watch a wild marathon of History Channel documentaries with my husband. I might even stay up past 11 p.m. What a rebel.

I’m a calm, quiet person, not exactly the vivacious, adventurous type. I like a low-key, predictable life with structure and order.

I’m also 21 years old.

Throughout my few years, I’ve appropriately been called an old soul, or more bluntly, an old lady and even boring.

My age has never reflected my personality, and although others are quick to assume that the number associated with my life should determine my actions and values, this has never been the case. At one point, I thought I was an oddity in this, but more often, as we see with this year’s Young Women to Watch, I meet others who share my uncharacteristic traits.

We are hard workers with old-fashioned work ethics, determined, patient, eager overachievers. We give everything our full effort and leave no task unfinished.

Despite our old souls and mature ways, we face the stigma of “You can’t do that. You’re too young.” But yes, we can. We’re paving our own way, refusing to let a number boss us around. We strive for more—more work, more responsibilities, more accomplishments— and we like it that way.

It’s easy to lump all millennials together in a one -size-fits-all category, but even in our own community, younger people are doing more, becoming entrepreneurs, leading thought movements, opening social doors—it’s plain and simple.

My hope is that older generations and other millennials will recognize these outliers and present them with the opportunities they need to thrive, turning a deaf ear to the old adage “You’re too young for that.” The younger we start becoming movers and shakers in our communities, the more we can contribute. After all, age really is just a number.

Writer Katie McKee is a recent college graduate and works at a public relations firm in Austin.

August’s Last Word topic will be “My Most Influential Teacher.” To be considered, email a 500-word submission by July 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com.