live my life on my own terms, not trying to live up to the expectations of others

if my mother wasn’t so bent on my living a “traditional” life. I don’t want to wear my cords at graduation next year? That’s stupid. Who cares that I’m trying to recognize the people who work so hard just to graduate and get an education? I am completely entitled to make our graduation day a celebration of my extra achievements, not just a celebration of the new stage of life we are all entering together.
I don’t have a boyfriend? Am I really a teenage girl? I don’t even want one right now?! Well clearly I will never have one.
I don’t want to have biological children? Well that’s just plain silly. Who ever heard of that? I don’t need to be socially minded. It is my duty to bring more lives into this world when there are several children all over our earth who need somebody to give them a home and love. They are obviously less important than my mother.
If I do any of these things I will be depriving her of a full life…
Yay me.

Dear Madame,
Since you publicly criticized my performance in the presentation of a group project I’ve decided that nothing I do will be quite good enough for you. I hate to break it to you but it’s a French class, not an acting workshop! You know I have wonderful pronunciation. You know I don’t stand up there and give a flat read. So why the need to call me out in front of the class on every single nitpicky thing I could have done better?
Love, your student who is throwing your expectations in the trash.