To be (a bull) or not to be (a bull)?

“You’re a Taurus, right?”

I stared at my humanities classmate as she guessed my Zodiac sign right on. I had always loved comparing my Zodiac sign with those of my friends for fun, though never seriously. But in that moment, I was forced to confront myself as I thought, “Maybe this astrology thing is accurate for me after all.”

The Western Zodiac signs are a group of 12 constellations that are determined by a person’s birthday. Some believe that their astrological sign reveals something about their personality and future. Since I was born between April 20 and May 20, my Zodiac sign is Taurus, which is represented by a bull. According to astrology, I’m supposed to be loyal, stubborn and indulgent, among other traits. But do I really agree with this set of attributes that were assigned the day I was born?

Let me start with loyalty. Loyalty is one of my core values, and it has grown as I’ve matured. Of course I’m not perfect at this, but I believe my loyalty shows through my commitment to the people and things I love. As an older sister, loyalty plays a big role in my relationship with my brother. Whether I’m critiquing his piano, defending him against our parents or just goofing off with him in the car, I am there for him whenever he needs me. Even through high school, when I saw him less, I made sure to stay in touch with him and be present in challenging times. In my friendships, this same devotion applies. Sometimes it means canceling my plans to catch up with a friend who needs to talk and vent. So, as a Taurus, I take pride in this trait.

One of the other traits commonly associated with Taurus is stubbornness. At first glance, I would wholly disagree with that assessment. I’d say that I’m pretty flexible and don’t insist on my own way. When making plans with others, for example, I let others decide. When something unexpected pops up, I go with the flow and adapt to the new situation pretty well. And more recently, I’ve been pushing myself out of my comfort zone. But my stubbornness comes through in subtler ways. I refuse to sleep until I get what I want done. It has also shown itself as perseverance, like when I nearly quit rowing and piano a while ago. The obstinate Taurus in me wouldn’t let me give up, and with encouragement from my classmates and seniors, I pushed through.

Taureans are also considered to be practical. In some contexts, this does apply to me. I get pessimistic when something feels unrealistic. But I would disagree elsewhere. Whenever I approach something, I like to find the deeper meaning beneath the surface. Instead of just putting in the work just because it works, I ask myself, “Why does this work?” or “Is there something more that can help me comprehend it better?” In my classes, exploring the origins of the things I learn has helped me grasp their applications more profoundly. And as an arts kid, I’ve always loved decoding the artist’s true intentions behind their work. My favorite moment from art history class was learning how light in a Caravaggio painting could mean divine intervention. When listening to Chopin’s first Ballade, the agony and ecstasy are so palpable, and I wonder what he had experienced while writing it. So while I can be practical sometimes, I’d say I’m more of a dreamer.

Finally, Taureans are also characterized as indulgent. I will admit: I have a tendency to prioritize my comfort and instant gratification. It’s why I’m a huge procrastinator. I’ve also let myself have a bit too much fun when I knew I had more pressing things to do. I am working on this, though, and I’ve slowly started to build discipline and use my time more wisely. When I feel the impulse to buy something cool yet unnecessary, I say no to myself and practice self-control.

So, the final verdict? I actually agree, at least somewhat. While these characteristics help me reflect on and understand myself better, I do think it’s a bit of an oversimplification. I refuse to be confined like a particle in a box. As I continue on my Hopkins journey, I hope to keep exploring myself and get out of my comfort zone. Perhaps I’ll find myself even further away from some of the stereotypically Taurus traits. I will hold onto this one truth: I am not defined by a set of stars or the day I was born.

Lizzy Rao is a freshman studying Applied Mathematics and Statistics and in Biophysics from Newtown, Pa.