Stereotypical Stereotypes

What is a stereotype? An expectation? Something to live by?
I think about this question a lot because it is often brought to my attention. But it's not so much what is a stereotype, but why do they exist and why do we follow them. America is supposed to be a smart country, but why do we follow such poor examples. Men are smarter than women, blondes are stupid, Asians are smart, preps, jocks, nerds, etc...... They come in all different types. Some say that a type of people act a certain way because of their race, religion, looks, education, the list goes on. But I think to myself, what stereotype am I? Do other people see me as a stereotype? These are the things I ask myself when people glance at me...do the people I hang out with make me follow a stereotype? Is normal....a sterotype? Does personality even matter any more in today's society? Or is it soley based on...an assumption...a stereotype? If I struggle for 21 odd years to get the best education possible and get a great job, does it matter? Was it worth it? If people are just going to make me who they want me to be or who I am in their heads, without even getting to know me or without getting past things...what's the point? I think about all of this almost every second of the day, and I will continue to think about it forever....because everyone thinks....no matter who they are or are seemed to be. Life never stops. You enter the world, live your life, and leave the world. Rarely are you remembered, except by the one's you love. I want to make a mark on the world, I don't want to be a stereotype. I want to be me. I want to be a Shyla....