My dad and I had a 2 hour-long phone conversation a few nights ago about politics. Sounds fun, right?

Actually, this became one of the most fruitful discussions I've had in a while about anything. There was a great amount of insight shared on important current events that, as a young adult who is often skewed in her beliefs, I needed to hear.

This conversation began with a few headlines in the news about the presidential election that is getting mass media attention (even more than usual). I won't go into too much detail about parties or candidates or opinions because I believe in the privacy of it all, but I will mention the deep conflict I have been having.

When I think of the upcoming election, I think of fear: fear of the unknown, fear of wasting my vote, fear of making the wrong decision or supporting the wrong person. Before my phone call with my dad, I was afraid of disagreement, afraid of confrontation, afraid of my own ignorance. I'm a first-time voter having a huge difficulty determining who to vote for, frankly because of this particular election's candidates. Again, I will spare details, but my point is this: feeling confident about my personal choice in this election has not been easy.

My dad gave me some amazing advice on the phone. First, he made it clear that I should do whatever I need to do in this election, even if it differs from the decision he is making. I needed that support more than I realized; the amount of pressure to vote a certain way often comes unknowingly from the people we respect most. However, it is ultimately my choice. Feeling fully in control of my own vote boosted my confidence. It may seem silly to even have this issue of self-certainty, but when you have never voiced your political opinion before and this election is the first chance you get, you don't want to damage the opportunity.

I asked my dad what felt like a million questions that night. I wanted to know the facts of some of the current issues and policies in our country, facts which are often presented too liberally or too conservatively by the media. I wanted to understand clearly what is happening in this country and how its citizens are being affected without the bias that so often pollutes it in class, from friends and from my eternal Twitter and Facebook feeds. Of course, my dad told me what he believes, but he also explained to me why and how the two parties think differently about certain issues. I was thankful for a chance to think about our country not as a collective member of a group but as a curious human seeking answers. It was refreshing.

Again, sharing my political views on the Internet is not my style. I will never, ever type away my feelings on these issues and try to sway my audience in a certain way. However, I will give a small piece of advice to any new and/or confused voters out there that my dad shared with me:

Whatever decision you make regarding the upcoming election, do your research. Don't stick to one news source or the rants on your Twitter feed. Inform yourself as much as possible before making your decision. Be assertive and secure with your choice this election year and let it be a representation of you.