I am not a neutral person. What I mean is that I have strong opinions about almost everything. My favorite game to play as a child was lawyer, and you did not want to be on the opposing side. Attending college has undoubtedly contributed to the scope and veracity of my stances. I am able to view the world from a more adult lens. However, I can also provide pictures of me at 7 throwing up a peace sign at an anti-war march. My point being that, while I certainly have been molded by life experience, my underlying values remain constant.

Throughout my life, I have been involved in countless conversations where my opinions have been reduced to merely a byproduct of my age. My friends and I are often dismissed as being too young to have “real” opinions. The assumption often is that young adults are these liberal, idealist fireballs that are incapable of rational thought. We are deemed too young to have enough life experience to understand the issues at hand. When we do conduct research and attempt to understand these issues, we are often patronized and discredited. It is unfortunate that many adults fail to encourage political dialogues. It is extremely disheartening when adults chuckle at us and wistfully reminisce about their optimistic days. This monologue is usually followed by the claim that our votes don’t make a difference.

It is disappointing that my peers are often blatantly discouraged by older generations. It is extremely important that we encourage our youth to participate in the political process rather than dismissing their excitement. I feel proud as an American and, even more so, as a woman to be able to participate in the political process and formulate educated opinions. It is frustrating that our government is not always a reflection of what we wish it would be. But, that means we should try harder, not give up. According to the US Census Bureau, young adult voters between the ages of 18-24 have a lower voter turnout than all other age groups. I encourage adults to try to fuel youthful enthusiasm rather than squash it. It is far more beneficial to use constructive criticism than belittling our beliefs. We, as millennials, should be encouraged to partake in these difficult conversations and maintain our idealism. We are the future and, therefore, hold the power to determine the future. This is why we should encourage youthful idealism. A generation of hope can create change but only if we let them.