There is a whole lot going on across the globe these days. Actually, there always has been. The difference, now, is that most of the world’s current events are documented by the media for any audience to read and discuss. This is a known reality to everyone my age; we grew up with the beginning of the modern Internet era and are now fully-versed. Until recently, I have not been one to keep a close eye on the news. Ask me about what President Obama’s been up to and I’d give you a blank stare. Ask me about what LeBron’s been up to, I’ll give you his points per game statistics, details of his Nike shoe deal, and his chances to get another championship ring.

I was the kid who was somehow perfectly content with watching SportsCenter from 7 a.m. until noon on a summer morning, until realizing I had watched the Top 10 Plays three times already. I’m a sports guy, always have been and don’t plan on changing much either. But a year in Washington D.C., a place with plenty of strong political values and opinions, has brought me to a conclusion about myself. To be brutally honest, I feel pretty out of touch, as an almost-20-something, when it comes to the issues of the world. Here’s the thing — I’m ignorant, but not to the fact that I’m ignorant. I mean that I realize there's plenty going on that I have very little knowledge of but just have not tried to learn about it. Not sure if this mindset is relatable to others my age, but a conscientious effort must be made to be a bit more aware of the problems that our nation and other countries are facing. Just a bit. I’ve always said I’ll get to it, but that hasn't been enough.

At Catholic, and the other schools in D.C. for that matter, there are a solid amount of kids who are politically minded. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to respect those who consider it their passion. The world needs people like that, those who care. A goal of mine is to leave a positive impact on the world and the people I come across, but I have never considered the realm of politics. Ask any of my friends and they’d tell you I’m not a political person in the slightest. It just seems like a lot to educate myself on all the policies, and the lack of compromise and togetherness in Congress isn’t too inviting. It does not excite me. Maybe I’m a part of the problem; people my age would rather read an Odyssey article about what “The Office” character they most closely act like, instead of browsing CNN’s recent stories. Why do I look forward to Saturday Night Live’s spoof of the recent GOP debate instead of reading a summary article about it? Why do I pay any mind to the memes on Twitter and Facebook bashing or glorifying President Obama before doing my own research on his performance? I cannot answer those questions. But at my age, I do have a duty to voice my opinion in politics by voting. I will not become the guy who says things like “she definitely watches MSNBC” under my breath, or force my opinions on to anyone at all. My goal is to become a bit more well-rounded. To know a little about a lot. I think we all can.

But don't lose sleep, SportsCenter, you will not be losing a loyal viewer.