One thing that gets on my nerves more than anything else is when people tell me there’s something I can’t do.

As with most people, it is my antagonist. It is my reason to do whatever I was told to do or not to do. Why? Because there is direct opposition. Such examples can be found in my own family.

One of my family members believes I should change majors. She says I will fail in my career because the economy is in too poor of a shape to support me in my career. She also says that the only career with a future is the military.

I told her that I will do what I love regardless of what she says, but she just tells me I am too young to see the truth. Of course, her version of the truth is whatever comes out of Rush Limbaugh’s mouth, and is therefore irrelevant.

Several teacher’s, including one who is a family member, told me I wouldn’t graduate high school. One teacher said that even if I did graduate from high school, I wouldn’t make it into college. Well, if the fact that this opinion piece has made it into a college publication didn’t tell you, I made it. I believe there is a special place in hell for each of them, and if there isn’t, I enjoy imagining there is.

Of course, there is a positive effect. I will do things people say I can’t because I need to prove them wrong. I hold it as a grudge and use it as fuel. Granted, I completely hate the guts out of the people who doubt and belittle me, but hating you is a small price to pay for success.

So, telling me there is something I can’t do really gets on my nerves, but I’m fine with it. You can go ahead and talk down to me, so long as you can deal with the fact that I will hate you for the rest of my life.

You have been warned.