Maturity.

Friday evening over a glass of wine, I realized just how much my friends and I have changed since we began our journey through college, more than three years ago.

Our usual conversations, which consisted of who was dating who, the new Manolo Blahnik stilettos we just had to buy one day and the guy who one of us went on a date with last weekend, had changed.

Two of those topics should probably never be discussed over alcoholic beverages: religion and politics (somehow we managed).

I realized we thought we were so much alike, but that was when it came to clothing style and our addiction to shopping.

So, what about our views on abortion, marriage, the divorce rate and even our elected officials?

Had we been avoiding these conversations because none of us wanted to discuss how we really felt, or did we choose not to talk about these things because we thought it seemed more like a confrontation than a discussion?

I attended my first speech class Dec. 1, and my professor mentioned this idea of people being confused about these two issues.

It really made me think. Has society turned a friendly debate among pals into forced persuasion?

There is a fine line between a confrontation and a discussion.

Although, it seems society has confused these two words by making them mean the same thing.

Yet, in a way sometimes we are trying to persuade others to see things our way. However, that should not be the reason for a discussion.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

As hard as it is for some of us (including myself) to understand how someone can have a different view, we shouldn't try to convince them, but be open minded and listen to what he or she has to say.

I am a Christian, and it is hard for me to listen to someone who is telling me why he or she doesn't believe in God.

But many times they aren't asking me to follow their beliefs but enlightening me as to why they believe that way.

I don't have to agree with them, but no one wants to hang around someone who thinks everything they do, say and believe is always right.

I have always enjoyed talking about these subjects, but I was never really able to discuss them with my close friends. Maybe I was too afraid we might get into an argument.

We discuss our opinions on one another's new hair style or their new "boyfriend."

And there is no question of whether we will be there for each other during difficult times.

So, if we are that close, how come it has been hard to talk about things that really matter?

There are so many important things in life that can be discussed, but, I guess, you do have to let yourself talk about smaller things that matter to you also.

Everyone is different, and things that are not important to you may be significant to someone else.

That night I realized we could discuss matters we were each passionate about, and we didn't all have to agree.

At times it did become a little heated, but that's what made the conversation so great.

We were mature enough to talk about these things without getting into an argument.

Learning about others' opinions on certain issues makes it easier to see why they do certain things you don't or vice versa.

For the first time I finally understood (as cliche' as it may sound) our difference of opinion is what really makes the world go round.

And learning to agree to disagree is what keeps it going.

Jennifer Reynolds is a senior journalism major from Shreveport and serves as editor for The Tech Talk. E-mail comments to jmr035@latech.edu.