College: it’s a part of your life when you are exposed to the real world, you experience different people’s cultures, and learn different opinions. Being a girl from a small town, I really was not exposed to much. I have never been out of the country, I didn’t have any foreign friends, and most of the people I was friends with mostly had the same beliefs as me. Once I stepped foot into a big university, I was faced with many different ways of life. It was slightly overwhelming for me at first, but I grew to like it.

In a country with so many cultures a lot of different opinions surface. You can choose to close out anyone who has completely opposite beliefs as you, or you can choose to agree to disagree and have an amazing relationship at the same time. Starting out, I had a tough time with that concept. I was intimidated by people who didn’t have the same religious, political, and social beliefs as I did. Knowing people viewed the world a little differently than me caused me to have fear in confrontation or lack of support in each other’s ways, but boy was I wrong.

You cannot keep yourself in a bubble of people who think exactly like you; it makes you more oblivious to the world around you. Having different friends allows you think outside of the box and see things in a way you would never have thought of. It might even help you stay true to your own opinions even more.

When exposing yourself to a diverse group of friends, it can be hard to state your views without worrying about whether or not they are going to like you. If they try and change something you feel passionate about, they don’t need to be your friend. Do not allow yourself to feel like you have to fit in by changing your values.

What you believe in defines who you are and if you stay true to you it will provide you with so much happiness then if you allow others to define who you are. Don’t be afraid to be criticized for providing your opinion! Not one person is the same and not one person thinks alike. Go out into the world ready to embrace all the different people that are going to come into your life!