Being a millennial is interesting, to say the least. Life is different then it was 20, 10, even 5 years ago. We live in an interesting time period, where you are expected to have an opinion but are told your opinion doesn’t really matter. The biggest example of this comes in within the 2016 presidential election. There are 5 candidates remaining, all with different quirks and ideas about what America needs. Some people are “Feeling the Bern” while others want to “Make America Great Again.” I’m not here to tell you which is right or wrong, or to share what I believe. I simply want to inspire you to continue caring about the future of America, and if you currently don’t care, maybe persuade you to find an interest.
1. You matter.
The truth is we will all be affected by who the next President of the United States is. Whether Democrat or Republican, the next leader of this country will be your voice to the rest of the world. So go out and vote. The only way your voice will be heard is if you put yourself out there. Change doesn’t start until someone takes a step to be different. Sure, the outcome may be different then you had hoped, but the end shouldn’t determine your journey. The way I look at it is if you don’t vote, what right do you have to complain? You had your chance to change the outcome but you chose otherwise, so now let others reap the benefits of their efforts. Sorry y’all, sometimes the truth hurts.
2. Form your own opinion.
Research, research, research. Don’t take everyone’s word about what’s going on; make your own educated decision. The biggest mistake you could make when discussing with someone is to make ignorant claims. Even though it may seem tedious at times, it will make your experience better.
3. Live informed.
Find a news source that lines up with your morals and beliefs. Whether your opinions are far to the left, in the middle, or off the chart on the right, there is someone out there who feels similar to you. I would suggest reading their work in order to form reasoning behind your opinion. Be able to defend what it is you support and why you support it.
4. Please, don’t be ignorant.
One of the most important things to remember is to not forget about the other side. Be aware of what others think and why they think they’re right. Don’t turn someone away because they don’t always agree with you. Friction is good! The more you have to defend what you think, the stronger your belief in it will be. Or maybe you’ll realize that the other side could be right too. So often we think there has to be only one right answer and that life has to be black and white, but the truth is that the grey area does exist.
5. Remember, change in society comes with every generation.
Change is inspired by those who speak the loudest and make it a point to make sure their voices are heard. The best way you can do that is elect those who will speak for your voice. Don’t let those older then you discourage your interest and your voice. Some people may not agree with the change you want, and that’s okay. The life they have lived and the times they grew up in may be very different than what it is that you experienced.
America isn’t perfect, but it is a pretty great place. Sure you may not agree with everything that others do, but that’s okay. We’re not made to all have the same ideas on everything, and that is what makes life remarkable. So don’t be discouraged by what is going on around you, but find hope in the fact that you can make a difference. History is being written and America is under construction, will you take part in the remodeling?
