This past week, I sent out a form for Millennials Defying Stereotypes. I got some amazing responses and today I am sharing my interview with Alexandra Hollander, a 22-year-old freelance writer.

AM: What’s your definition of a millennial?

AH: Someone who creates opportunities for themselves, and has no limitations as to what they can do or what their career will be.

AM: How are you defying the millennial stereotype?

AH: People claim that millennials are lazy, entitled, and don’t work hard, but that couldn’t be further from true for me. When I was a senior in college, I decided to finish classes online and move to New York. There, I was an intern at Harper’s BAZAAR and US Weekly, while still being a full-time student, and having a part-time retail job. There was not a spare hour in my schedule, and I worked really, really hard to get these prestigious internships and manage to graduate early, even though I spent that entire semester in another state.

Then, I went on to work for Vogue as a Fashion Closet Assistant, but after a while I decided to leave to pursue writing full-time. Now, I’m a freelance writer and I work from home. On top of that, I have a blog, and I’m working on two different e-books that I plan on publishing within the next six months. Nothing has been handed to me, I worked for everything that I have, and I will continue to work until I am a New York Times Bestseller, and have started a digital publication of my own.

AM: What can other young people do to defy that misnomer?

AH: Continue to chase their dreams and work hard to achieve them. Don’t let older generations tell you that you cannot do something, or that something isn’t a practical or real career, because we are the generation that creates our own amazing opportunities. Do what you have to do to get to where you want to be, but never get comfortable, never settle. Continue to work hard, no matter what.

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

AH: We are one of the smartest, most creative and clever generations. There is nothing we see as impossible, we have incredible goals and actually work hard to achieve them, and we strive to live a life that makes us happy.

I hope you enjoyed reading about Alexandra’s views on millennial stereotypes! Be sure to check out her work and check her out on social media.