One of the golden rules of conversation is avoiding conversation about politics and religion – but what does everyone seem to love to talk about? That’s right, these forbidden fruits. At some point you will likely find yourself wishing those around you would respect these words of wisdom. You cannot change others’ opinions, but you can learn to be comfortable with your own beliefs even when those around you may be challenging them.
If you moved away from your hometown for school, a different political culture can be overwhelming. You don’t, and you shouldn’t, have to compromise your own personal beliefs to fit those around you, but you should learn to respect those with differing opinions. Different opinions are important to our culture. By disagreeing with someone you may be providing a new perspective, but doing this effectively requires respect.
Don’t be afraid to get involved in a conversation you are a part of, but be careful that you aren’t interfering. It can be frustrating when you hear people saying something you don’t agree with, but you aren’t a part of the conversation. If you jump into a conversation that you’re overhearing just to argue, this will be perceived as rude and set people on the defensive. They will be unwilling to listen to you and you won’t accomplish anything except creating tension. In a case like this, it is best to honor the privacy of others.
Contrary to the previous approach, but equally as bad, is feigned apathy. If someone is talking to you and you have an opinion, don’t be afraid to share. Choosing to pretend you don’t know or care is a disservice to you and your intelligence as well as the learning process. It can be tempting to hide your real thoughts especially if they are dissenting opinions, but if someone cares to ask for your thoughts, maintaining a mature attitude allows you to highlight some of your best intellectual attributes. Remember that many of these conversations are not about winning a debate; they are about providing perspective that inspires thought.
Discomfort is normal when people with different beliefs surround you, but you aren’t the only one. Try to avoid judging people solely on political associations. The current system is an “us against them” mentality, but we don’t have to follow that practice. Being around people who think differently is a growing experience. Your beliefs don’t have to be set in stone and it’s okay to want to learn more. It’s also okay if your personal set of beliefs does not align with one political party. Many people struggle with knowing where they fit and they feel guilty when they believe something contrary to their party’s traditional platform.
As you adapt to your surroundings, don’t feel forced to change, but maintain an open mind. People will never all agree, and that’s okay. You don’t have to let political ideology determine your friendships. If you show respect to others and their beliefs you will find people are respectful of you even when you think differently. Respecting more and judging less is a great way to make this difficult transition easier. Besides, college is a learning experience. Now is the time to embrace your newfound independence and maybe explore schools of thoughts and ideas you never considered before. You don’t need to change your beliefs to fit in but welcome and understand your differences with others, and you will be just fine.