Good or bad , right or wrong , people can be quick to assign labels to others , particularly those they do not understand or those who may be different as defined by what they have come to understand as society ’ s standard . And once a label has been affixed , it is quickly accepted as the norm .
Take the label Millennials ( or Generation Me ) for example . A group generally defined by the birth years 1983-2001 is sometimes characterized through cultural images and attributes and are widely perceived as being self-centered and self-absorbed often accompanied by an entitlement mentality .
The problem with labels is they are sometimes inaccurate portrayals or , at minimum , are perceived inaccurately based on misinformation and misunderstanding . Yet , we succumb to the temptation to use them sparingly with little regard for how the person with whom we have assigned the label sees themselves .
A case in point , in this month ’ s cover story we introduce you to an individual who shatters every negative stereotype often associated with the label that was long ago assigned to her age group . Above and beyond that , she boldly exemplifies the admirable qualities that those who look beyond the label have come to see and appreciate in this generation — remarkable resiliency , the ability to be creative , inspiring , enterprising , and confident in times of uncertainty and upheaval in order to make a difference in life where it counts — in the lives of others .
Meet Ebony Perkins . The term high achiever would be an understatement , her life has been characterized by achievement from early childhood throughout high school and her collegiate experience . She earned a Master of Public Health Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Claflin University . Not one to sit idle , she has been named , Woman on the Move by the Blind Spot Art Foundation . Her bio reads of a Who ’ s Who at every stage in life . Yet , she remains humble and Christ focused
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