I’m a college girl, and if that means one thing, it’s that the last thing I want to be called is “basic.” You know, basic — like someone (usually a girl) who is only interested in things that are popular or mainstream.
I’m not really sure when the whole “basic” thing happened, but I do know this: It was meant as an insult. No one wants to be thought of as the person who only does things when they are trendy, the girl who wear the classic white converse to Gator tailgates (or UGG boots when it drop below 75) or the friend who only listens to “Despacito” because it’s popular and has Justin Bieber in it.
I would say that being “basic” is directly in contrast to being hipster. And now, even the term “hipster” may be becoming popular enough that it in itself is becoming basic. Over the past year, I’ve noticed that in comparison to my friends, some would call me basic. I’m not one to try fancy restaurants that have 10 things on the menu, drink tea-infused coffee (is that even a thing?) or watch indie films just because I like them.
I tried and tried and tried to like those things, or anything that would make me feel like not the rest of the college-aged-girl population out there. Cause let’s face it: we all just want to be unique. We don’t want to be clumped in with dozens, scratch that thousands, of other people. Sometimes, it feels good to stand out.
But here’s what I learned. I like what I like, and that should be more important than any other label anyone could ever give me.
So what if I like chain-restaurants that sell every meal known to man? So what if I want to dress like every other person? So what if I just like plain iced-coffee?
Just because I like those things doesn’t make me any less unique. And coming to terms with that was a long time coming. There are a dozen other things that make me less basic-y. So maybe outwardly someone who doesn’t know me would try to call me that. But if you really knew me, you’d know that I can get down to some homemade mac ‘n cheese or that I know every lyric to “Surfin USA” by The Beach Boys or that I love when people send me new music they think I’ll like.
Being basic doesn’t have to be the insult people want it to be- in fact I think if there are people out there who think that, it just means they don’t know you well enough. You are more than your opinions on food or music or clothes.
It has taken me a good amount of time to understand that I am my own person regardless of what people think, or say, about me. It is all about building up confidence to know who you are and what you like. And no one can tell you what to do.
We all want to be seen or known no matter our labels or preferences. And it’s about time that we recognize and celebrate that it is okay to be basic. Because chances are, if you think about it long enough, you probably aren’t.