Tuesday, November, 8^th, 2016; The United States Presidential Election Day. A day which will be my first time voting for such an election. Reminiscing back on the last several months, I can’t help but think about how my experience thus far as a citizen voter has been.

One that has not been huge into politics, I can recognize the fact that this presidential election has been one roller coaster ride for the two candidates. Looking beyond the fact of what has happened between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, what I have physically experienced as an Election Day voter is beyond what I believed it to be.

As most students have experienced on their campuses (at least I would believe) the constant special interest groups, volunteers, and members of various campaigns within the election asking and making sure you are registered to vote. As one who had the opportunity to vote for the Primary Elections back in the Spring of 2016, registering to vote for the first time was an exciting and powerful time. All my life, I never got the opportunity to vote. And all the sudden I was able to? It was an interesting moment to officially have the power to vote! Following the Primary Election into the Fall, the volunteers were found again all throughout campus making sure that all information on your voter registration panel was accurate and up to date. One that moved since the Primary Election, my duty involved changing my address and figuring out my new place in which I would vote at. Together, my experience in registering to vote and voting for the Primary Election was what I assumed it would be. It didn’t quite hit me until I found myself in my own voter booth having the power and ability to vote for the individuals in which I believed would take on our country with respect and dignity. That moment was very new to me and one that I won’t forget.

What has been neat about my experience as a voter has been going to school in such a popular and large city in which a lot of the political action has taken place. Being a student at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, political campaigns and candidates have rallied either at our around Temple’s campus in the Philadelphia region. Since the start of this year’s Presidential Election, Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump have made appearances to rally and give speeches over the last number months. Beside political individuals, famous people involved with certain campaigns have made their way to Temple and Philadelphia to express their opinions and speaking out in hope of all us to vote come Tuesday. These individuals include Katy Perry and Anne Hathaway. Tomorrow, the night before the election, City Hall in Center City, Philadelphia will hold their last rally including Barack and Michelle Obama, Hillary, Bill and Chelsea Clinton, Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. Together, they all will leave our incredible city with their last set of words, ideas and feelings before we go out and make our decision for the 2016 Presidential Election.

It is still very surreal to think in only a few days I will be part of making such a vital decision for my country of the United States of America. Regardless of the way everyone decides to vote, going out and voting in general is very crucial and important. Being a United State Citizen, it is our right and duty to vote to practice our way of voting and that can’t be done unless we go out and vote! Happy Election Day!