And just like that, the day we have all been waiting for is here: Tuesday, November 8, better known as Election Day in one of the USA's most historical elections yet. After what feels like a never-ending saga of "he said, she said" and childlike behavior between Clinton and Trump, American voters will finally cast their votes for the next president of the United States.
However, it seems like most people cannot wait to vote for all of the wrong reasons. Most of the people I spoke with just want this election to be over because they want to stop hearing negativity about Trump and Clinton, or because they want to stop arguing with their loved ones about who they're supporting, or because they just want it all to be over. These feelings might actually reflect a majority of Americans; in a poll conducted by the New York Times, they found that while 13 percent of Americans feel excited by the 2016 presidential campaign, 82 percent of Americans feel disgusted by it. Personally, I do not feel proud of these findings at all.
As a first time voter, I completely agree with these feelings from my fellow Americans and I am completely discouraged by this presidential campaign. Many older Americans speak about how proud they were of their former presidents, like JFK, Reagan, and even Obama; they speak about how empowering it felt to be part of such a big movement and how it felt to feel truly united and proud to be an American. Call me pessimistic, but there is no chance I will feel this way after this election.
Yes, either candidate winning would be historic in different ways, but watching voters settle for a candidate they do not fully support is truly disheartening. No person or candidate is perfect, but to watch many Americans choose one candidate solely out of discontent for the other is not encouraging. Also, to watch the media provide little to no coverage of third party candidates when many Americans wish they had a third option is discouraging, especially for someone who believes the two party system needs to be changed.
I know it is only my first time voting in an election, so my hopes for the future have not been completely crushed. However, while I should be excited to vote on Tuesday, I am actually terrified. I am terrified of what kind of nation we will live in if a certain candidate is elected president. So, as a message to all my fellow voters, please make an informed decision on Tuesday. Don't just know the person you're voting for, know what you're voting for. Don't just know how your decision will affect your life, know how it will affect the lives of others, especially those who may be more disadvantaged or are unable to vote, like the children of America. The future is in your hands, so please use them wisely.
