Advice To People Worried About Culture Shock in College | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Advice To People Worried About Culture Shock in College

18
Advice To People Worried About Culture Shock in College
Okstate.com

What do the states of Washington and Oklahoma have in common? After growing up in Washington and leaving to go to Oklahoma State University I can tell you, not very much. But after the past three years in Oklahoma I’ve come to realize how many changes I have gone through and all the differences in the surrounding environment.

When I first came to Oklahoma, I was scared that I would be ostracized for my religious and political beliefs. I was afraid to mention anything I believed in. Coming from a generally unreligious and left winged area, moving to the bible belt made me pretty anxious.

My freshman year I refused to discuss anything I thought would mark me as different and make people dislike me before they knew me. It would come up in classes and I would give very basic answers that were not always true. I avoided any opportunity where any beliefs were brought up.

My sophomore year I began to feel comfortable enough around my friends to start talking politics. I realized then that they didn’t care about what I believed about certain things, and that they would accept me for what I do instead of what I believe. I started to become comfortable with who I am, and where I am.

This year the worry is completely gone. I still don’t bring up politics or religion but if they are brought up I don’t avoid it. I have the knowledge now that if someone doesn’t want to be around you because of your beliefs, you probably won’t want to be around them.

That has been my biggest takeaway here. People who give you grief for your beliefs are not people you want to spend time with. So never be afraid to express yours, it will only lead to you knowing who you actually want to hang out with.

Leaving your comfort zone can be frightening. Completely immersing yourself in a culture completely outside it at your college can be horrifying. But when you realize that there are plenty of people all around that share your views, all that worry goes away.

The biggest thing for me to realize is that this university, like many, is a collection of students from all over the world. I thought people would care about my religious and political beliefs, but everyone has a different story and different beliefs that all come together beautifully in college.

Everyone is busy figuring out their own lives, their own beliefs, they are all too busy to be worrying about yours.

If, like me, you are attending or plan to attend a college in an area very different from where you grew up, don't worry. Be yourself and you will find the people you want to be around, and maybe they wont care if you’re a democrat or a republican, a liberal or a conservative. If people enjoy being around you then they’ll be around you. Don't pretend to be someone you're not, because everyone's too busy figuring themselves out to give you crap for being who you are.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2860
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1714
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200970
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21386
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments