Before you read this, I will already admit I am not as politically educated as I should be, nor is this a biased article for my friends of the right side or left. This is a reflection upon politics in the present day United States through the eyes of a 19-year-old college sophomore.
I attend a private school, Juniata College, that is widely known for being liberal. I come from a small town in rural central Pennsylvania. I was raised by two hardworking parents who believe that you must work hard to succeed.
Transitioning to college with all types of people holding hundreds of different beliefs and view points was very eye opening. Being raised in a small, rural town, I would describe most of the views as right sided — or republican. But, my small, private college definitely was more liberal. I couldn't help but think, but where do I fit in?
I can take all the online tests in the world, listen to the news headlines, and gather information from classes, but I still might not know where I fit in. In the ever-changing society we have, there is never a simple solution or choice. We have so many choices.
We get on social media, and politics and news headlines are plastered every where. We turn on the TV to another campaign commercial. We listen to the radio and hear the current tragedies of the United States and the world being broadcasted over and over again. We hear our parents, friends, mentors, professors, and strangers voice their opinions, make their Facebook posts, and share articles just like this one, showing which side they stand for.
In an ever-changing society, young adults like myself want to keep up with the current trends and times. But how can we? How can we agree with all the new changes? How can we pick one side when there is constant turmoil with both? How can we when all we see are the good and the bad of both? How can we define our view points by right or left? What if we are neutral?
What if we are in the middle?
I find myself struggling to relate to right or left. One day I might be feeling a little Democratic, but in a moment's notice, i could be feeling a little more republican. From issue to issue, controversy to controversy, opinion to opinion, my own opinion changes as quick as the wind.
You may say I need to get more educated, and maybe I do. Maybe that is the problem with present day young adults. We aren't educated enough. We aren't interested in the nitty-gritty facts. We want to stand for something, without first crawling our way there. We don't want to "go through the motions."
But, I will leave you with this. Maybe, just maybe, our generation is too educated. We have access to so much. We hear and see so much. We experience so much. All of that exposure, might just be leaving us a little confused. So, if you don't know where you stand you are not alone. I am sure there are many young adults who feel the same.
