This “Millennials Defying Stereotypes" interview series has been absolutely incredible- I am so intrigued by what’s being sent to me! Here’s the link to the form in order to apply to be featured.

Today, we’re featuring Casey Cromwell, from Casey the College Celiac blog . She is truly awesome and she is the epitome of a millennial who defies stereotypes.

AM : How are you defying the millennial stereotype?

CC: In my experience, millennials are often wrongly assumed to be less ambitious, quite unaware of the struggles that previous generations or other people may have had to go through, and are more self-absorbed. I suppose you could say that I started defying millennial stereotypes by accident. At age 11, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a chronic illness that involves widespread pain and inflammation. At age 17, I was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition in which ingesting gluten damages the intestines.

For instance, in my freshman year of college, I was hospitalized for a week due to celiac complications. I wrote one of my term papers in a hospital bed. Throughout college, I also had to set aside extra time to prepare food and get more sleep than a "typical" college kid. Yet, thanks to a lot of hard work, I still graduated a semester early with a 4.0 GPA (I told you she was AWESOME).

Now I'm in grad school to receive an MFA in Creative Writing, and I am learning how to balance my classes, as well as teaching a college course, and staying healthy. My chronic illnesses certainly come with their fair share of challenges. However, I am grateful for how empathetic, determined, and strong they have made me! Additionally, I think a greater amount of millennials possess these traits than people might initially assume.

AM: Why do you think these stereotypes have a strong correlation with millennials?

CC: For instance, a millennial might be able to be "successful" as a social media influencer, a job that didn't even exist in previous generations. Similarly, they may seem oblivious to everyone around them when they're always on their phones. Every generation has different definitions of success and cultural awareness.

AM: What can other young people do to defy the stereotypes?

CC: Pave their own path, chase their own dreams, and create their own societal values and definitions. If they can, they should find a way to give back while following their passion.

AM: What do you want the public to know about millennials?

CC: No two millennials are the same and, as a result, millennials shouldn't all be seen in the same (often stereotypical) light. I may be young, but I've been through my own share of battles and I’ve made my own share of accomplishments, and I bet many millennials can say the same.

Casey is so inspirational! Be sure to visit her blog , follow her on Twitter , Instagram , Pinterest , and find her on Facebook .