When I graduated high school, everyone I knew that was older than me said to enjoy college, that it wouldn't last forever, and that it would go by super fast. I learned that to be true after my sophomore and now rounding the corner from junior to senior year, it feels like I blinked since I was moving my bed into my apartment last August. I'd say my freshman year defined me, my sophomore year inspired me and this year, my junior year, matured me.

Same as the last two years I had all excellent professors, the product of being part of two excellent departments. This year also marked the first time that I'd made actual friends through my departments and not through friends or music, and damn are they people I'm glad that I've gotten to know. Winter came way too damn fast and lasted too long, and it seems like we just skipped spring altogether when in the last two days the weather went from mid 50's to mid 80's and it was the first time it was above 65 this semester.

But a major part of what has made this year special was not something that was necessarily happening in Pullman or even Washington for that matter. Just before the start of Fall semester back in August, America's political stage erupted in flames as our country questioned its political core. Two individuals representing vastly different sets of values became the two candidates for the leader of our nation, and that gap between who they were and what they stood for was reflected in the discourse between their supporters.

This was visible at universities, rallies and major population centers all across the country. WSU was no different. In October our Republican Club put up a "Trump Wall" display in the highest traffic area of campus, and amidst its presence came protest and both civil and uncivil debate between individuals. It is the opinion of some that this display should not have been allowed on campus and that it furthered extreme views on immigration into the country and while that is certainly a fair opinion I disagree.

I remember standing on top of the Library on that crisp October day and watching the crowds develop. It was perhaps the most people I had ever seen in person gather to discuss how they believe parts of this country should operate. It was refreshing to see people actually mobilizing instead of being social-media activists that think they are challenging or debating the values of the other political party by sharing a NowThis video or a dank meme.

But now that is kind of where we have gone back to. And I don't mean that there should be protests happening frequently or political displays on the Mall every week but people have seemed to revert back to an overall apathy towards how the government is operating. And while I can understand that not everyone is interested and that this particular election season was extremely drawn-out and draining, it is notable that the government doesn't just stop working in between presidential election years.

So whatever your political views, keep being active even when the president isn't being elected. Young voices are important for representatives to hear, and if something you don't like is happening in government and you're not saying anything about it anywhere, you're essentially saying you approve it. And if someone disagrees with you, then in the very least you convinced someone else to also speak up about it.