Growing up I have always held the unpopular opinion. New Orleans is an extremely progress city, Louisiana is not. People consider it the deep south, which from a geographical stand point it is. It is also a predominantly red state.

Growing up in a extremely liberal family, I knew I would lean left from an extremely young age, putting me at odds with the majority of the population.

Although I was always aware that I identified as a Democrat, I never openly argued or asserted my point until freshman year of high school; the start of President Obama's second term. I can vividly remember getting into my first political argument, and losing simply because I was extremely outnumbered.

Growing up around people who's fundamental values are opposite of your own is an extremely challenging upbringing, but it also teaches extreme restraint and acceptance. Some of my best friends hold beliefs that I strongly disagree with and actively protest against, but I have learned to love them anyway.

Political party alignment does not define a person, and although it can affect the way one acts, it is not a defining aspect of who they are. In situations where my opinion was challenged or disrespected, I learned to respectfully disagree and move on.

I understand that not everyone holds the same views and just because they believe something else does not mean we cannot respectfully agree to disagree. In certain situations, there does not always have to be a winner. Sometimes it is best to acknowledge what the other person is saying and then ignore it.

When I announced I was attending George Washington in DC, one of the most liberal cities in the US, it was met with many warnings. People, mostly adults, cautioned me to not become a "crazy liberal," oblivious to the fact that I already identified as one.

My whole life, I have been surrounded by people who insult those who do not hold the same political views, insults are thrown and derogatory terms are used. In a sense, these people, although unaware, were insulting me as I sat at the table next to them and they destroyed a person simply because they supported President Obama.

There have been countless times when I have wanted to interject and argue until my voice is gone. Most of the time I am extremely saddened by the disrespect and general meanness that comes off of people.

In the end, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Although some are better than others.