The uncomfortable feeling of not being able to talk to one’s friends and family because they have different views from them is overpowering, as they eventually grow up not being able to tell people how they really feel. In today’s society, people are constantly fighting over their views on the world, not even thinking about the effect it has on the people around them. As people grow up surrounded by stereotypes where saying their true opinion is offensive or rude, some stop adding to the conversation and start feeling different, like no one will like them if they say the wrong thing. People should always have someone to talk to, no one should feel like they have to change themselves for anybody else, because they’ve had to before; it should be okay to openly share the things one believes in.
Classroom discussions are some of the first places kids get to share their ideas with others who might not think the same. These times for children can already impact not only who they are going to be when they grow older, but also how the other children treat their opinions. Kaleb Cornwell, junior, typically gets along with most of the people in his grade and feels that he can share his opinion freely. Even when he does get pushback on it, he doesn’t shut down his ideas; he is still very passionate about what he believes. Cornwell feels that he can express himself more with his closer friends, as most people do. He said, “I’m pretty close with some of my friends, and those are the ones I really talk to.” It’s good for people to have someone to talk to. It can be hard to find the right person, but when someone does find them, they can open themselves up and get the recognition they’ve wanted from others.
It can be really hard for quiet students to add to class discussion; there are multiple different reasons why, but some of the main worries are them being criticized or judged for their opinions. It’s a lot easier for some kids, some don’t care about other people’s opinions and feel free to share what they truly believe. Cornwell said, “A lot of times people speak too freely and sometimes it can be too much on other people.” It is very easy for someone to be shut out of a conversation just because they have opposing views. Allyson Hooper, freshman, has seen a lot of different points of view within class conversations, some good and some bad. She believes that all discussions should include the whole class and that the classroom should be a place where it is safe to share. She said, “When you have conversations in class, other people should actually listen to you and not make fun of your ideas. They should try to build off of them and continue going with the idea.” It’s easy to look past other people’s opinions, but in class, that’s just an opportunity to add on or ask questions.
Everyone should be included in the discussion and have their own opinions, no matter who they are. It’s ok to sit and listen to someone else share what they believe, and it’s okay to hold in one’s opinions if it’s going to hurt the others around them, but what’s not okay is to shut someone else down all the time just to try and prove an argument. People need to hear the opposing side to the argument. When students grow up in a society where opinions are either right or wrong, they will sometimes find themselves holding in their personality or true self, just so that they will be accepted by others. So one should speak their truth and be kind to others, even when they have different opinions. It’s not hard to be nice to someone, and it’s not hard to listen and have a civil conversation with them either. Be the change in classroom discussions and help others around the room feel more welcome to talk. It can change people for the better.
