It’s election season. Primaries are underway and before you know it, we will have two candidates and it will be time for our presidential election. For many of us, this will be our first time voting. Super exciting. You will likely remember the first person you vote for the rest of your life. But, I know what you are thinking: what the hell is going on? I have no idea what a Sanders is or, Bush? Wasn’t there like two Bush presidents already? Yeah, exactly.
Originally, I really wanted to give you all the low down on what’s going on. I wanted to tell you about the policies our candidates stand for and support, but I realized there was no way for me to do this without being biased and that isn’t cool. I want you to make an informed decision when you vote for a candidate, and I don’t want it to be swayed by my own political affiliation.
Basically, I’m here pleading you to become informed. If you are politically active, I know it’s super hard to veer away from your party affiliation, but hey, we are young. Be crazy and open your mind a little. Take a look at what the other side has to offer. After all, you will never know where the other side is coming from unless you put yourself in their shoes. Hell, you might learn something new.
If you aren’t politically active, that’s fine, but become active. Even just a little. Regardless if you hate our government or not, you are a citizen here. You are going to have to live with the policies the next president enacts, so you might as well make your voice count and pick someone with policies you like. I know what you are thinking: you are one person, what does your vote matter? It does all add up in the end. What if everyone had that mindset and just decided not to vote? We are actually pretty lucky to have this ability, so you might as well exercise it.
How can you become more active? Go read the paper. Check out The Skimm. Quick news right to your phone every morning. Read the articles your friends post on Facebook, but question them. Do not just take what you read for granted. Question this article, question its validity. That’s fine, I’m not offended. Question everything and keep searching for answers. Don’t read one news source, read dozens. Listen to people’s conversations, but don’t let one or two or ten people make up your mind for you.
We are the future. We need to become active now or we will continue to watch the generations before us make decisions for our future and for our children's futures. I ask my fellow college students to take a step forward and get involved in what's going on in the world, to create a better future for generations to come.
