In June of 2018, I started organizing for one of the most contentious Senate races in the country. Arizona was one of few states in the national spotlight and was considered a "purple" state. I, along with dozens of other organizers across the state were tasked with building programs in our regions to reach people that were either disenfranchised or were low turnout voters. We wanted every voice heard in the midterms. We needed everyone to vote.

The days were grueling. I worked 100 days, anywhere between 10-14 hours a day, seven days a week with four days off… one day a month. Most people will say that's crazy and I do not disagree, but those people do not understand the "why" behind being a full-time student and a full-time organizer. The "why" for me was simple — I did not and still do not agree with the direction our country is going.

I live for doing something fulfilling with my life, and what felt right at the time was removing myself from my social life, putting school on the back burner, and doing something, not for myself, but for my friends, family, and anyone I felt did not have a voice but wanted one. I decided to make an impact.

Over the course of 4 months, my incredible team of interns and volunteers registered over 500 new voters, knocked on more than 15,000 doors and made over 20,000 phone calls in Tempe alone. Congressional District 9 which encompasses Tempe, Ahwatukee, and parts of Chandler and Gilbert, all suburbs of Phoenix, saw historical voter turnout. In fact, the entire state of Arizona saw record turnout. The statewide team I had the privilege of being on elected the first ever woman to the US Senate to represent Arizona, but it was not as simple as throwing a tweet out onto the Twittersphere.

Here are the things I learned about making change:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said "Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals." Your perspective on justice comes from your perspective on the world. When you wholeheartedly believe in something, do it. When you wholeheartedly disagree with something, do not take to a platform where your opinion is not appreciated… Do something about it.