Last fall, I can remember hearing about the very real possibility that the Republicans were going to repeal the ACA, commonly called ObamaCare, without guaranteeing protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Without the protections ObamaCare gives people with pre-existing conditions, as a person who was born with a hereditary bone disorder called Multiple Hereditary Exostoses, I fall into that category of either being unable to get health insurance or being forced to pay an exorbitant amount of money once I go off my mom's health insurance.

Needless to say, I was worried.

So I did the only logical thing I could — I called the Republican Senator from Ohio, Rob Portman, and asked him not to vote on any health insurance bill unless it guaranteed protection for people with pre-existing conditions. Only, I got his voicemail.

Okay, it was the weekend. Fair enough. Since his voicemail said he, or more likely someone from his office, would call me back, I left a message and fully expected his office to contact me like I was always told. I was doing my civic duty and informing my representative of my wishes.

So I waited. Monday came, and no response. Okay, he must have had a lot of calls from concerned Ohioans such as myself. Tuesday came and still nothing. Wednesday passed and so did Thursday. Friday came and I checked my voicemail. Maybe he called and I was in class. His voicemail did say he'd get back to me, so I continued to wait and wait and wait and wait. To this day, I'm still waiting for a response.

Well, I decided to give Senator Portman the benefit of the doubt. He probably was super busy and there was really nothing to worry about because TrumpCare failed.

Then net neutrality happened in December. Being an avid lover of the Internet, this time I contacted both of my senators, Senator Portman and Senator Brown, as well as my representative, Bob Latta, through their official websites. Representative Latta was the first to respond, and then Senator Brown — both within a week. To this day, Senator Portman has never gotten back to me on my email about net neutrality.

I have contacted Rob Portman twice, and have received no response. Needless to say, in 2022 when he is up for re-election, I will not be voting for him since neither he nor his office cannot be concerned with responding to his constituents — even with just a pre-typed letter his office probably sends to everyone.

I guess what they say is true: first impressions matter.

I am proud to say, however, that my first ever vote for United States Senator is going to Senator Sherrod Brown. Where do I even begin? For one, it's obvious by taking the time to respond so promptly that Senator Brown genuinely cares about listening to his constituents — and I'm not the only Ohioan who can attest to this. He obviously values having their input on important issues that affect their future and the future of our country, as he should.

Having a representative who actually listens to you and replies is absolutely fantastic. And when that representative is a United States Senator? It's even better.

It's especially refreshing in this day and age when politicians — particularly senators — only seem to care about voting along party lines, even when it's not what's best for their constituents. It can really feel like they aren't listening to what we have to say — and it's frustrating and concerning.

When our representative stops listening to “We the People," who elect them in the first place and just let them get away with it, then our future is in grave danger. We need more representatives who pay attention to our wants and needs. We need more representatives like Senator Sherrod Brown. Or else, we're in big trouble — especially when our president, who pretty much thinks he's able to get away with anything is admiring and praising brutal and violent leaders like Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin.

So, fellow Ohioans, when you go to the polls this November keep this in mind: Do you want a senator who's going to ignore you for the next six years until he needs re-electing, or do you want a senator who's actually going to hear what you have to say?

If you choose the latter, and hopefully you did, then give your vote to Sherrod Brown because he realizes that your input about decisions in Washington that affect your future is extremely important.