In my time away from writing and academia, I am a proud server at Chili's. While sometimes the details entailed in my job description are tedious, as a whole I love my job. I love interacting with people, and I mean all people. From laughing with children about the spilled ranch on my t-shirt, to handing a margarita (or maybe two) to the mom who has been dealing with those kids all day, being a server is definitely the current job for me. However, regardless of where you work, what you do there, or how much you love it, there is always going to be “those days." You know, the days when you get to work and you’re just not having it, and you fully believe that you would be happier anywhere else in the universe. Well, that was me the other day. I hit my leg on my brother's bed before leaving for work and it was swollen and purple. It was just not my day, at all.

After about two hours of running around the restaurant and complaining about everything and everyone, I noticed a family of four (mom, dad and two sons) sitting in my section. I made my way over, introduced myself, let them know I’d be taking care of them and got started with grabbing them some drinks. When I brought the drinks back over the mom looked at me and said, “Sara, you are very personable! And also young - what are you doing with your life right now?”

Caught off guard, I responded, “I am actually in college right now!”

Naturally, the mother responded with, “What are you studying?”

Quite promptly I responded with my major - “Philosophy." Instantly the father began to chuckle.

In any other instance I probably would have grown instantly defensive. However, with a smile stretched from cheek to cheek across my face, to disguise the animosity rapidly growing inside me I responded, “Why the laughs, sir?”

Before her husband had the chance to respond, the mother, with a raised eyebrow, asked me, “What do you plan on doing with that?”

As a philosophy major, that is not the first time I’ve gotten that question (nor the 60th). However, I do have graduate school plans and I replied with, “I plan on going to law school, and hopefully pursuing politics."

It was as if, with the word “politics” leaving my mouth, I sent this man into a trance. He immediately looked at me, and with a condescending tone said, “So... do you plan on being the next Bernie Smanders?" That was not a typo. He said "smanders."

I was a little thrown off by the question, and unsure of how to respond considering these people were still tipping me (hopefully). I decided to stay slightly true to myself and responded, “That is not my main goal, but would be an honor."

Next, in order to disallow her husband from verbally attacking me, whom by the way was glaring at me with fire in his eyes, the mother quickly asked, “Then what is your main goal?”

Without a thought or hesitation, I instantly said, “I never thought I would first discuss my political pursuits at Chili's, and I know this is bold, but my goal is to permanently abolish the two-party system." I exhaled. This was and is the truth. I keep myself awake at night envisioning a democracy without political parties in control. Yet, I never had spoken in regards to it aloud.

The man looked at me, a blank face coated with confusion and uttered, “So what? You want to create one party?”

I smiled and said, “No. I want to abolish the two-party system having precedence over the mindsets within our elections. The political parties are two extremes that people blindly identify themselves as, and because of them, people have lost sight. We hear about people disagreeing with candidates, but still voting for them simply because they are 'Democratic' or 'Republican.' To me, that is ridiculous. Behind those labels stand people, and those people need to be equipped to lead our nation regardless of their political affiliation.

The father's eyes lit up. He looked at me as if he had restored respect and said, “You know what, you are absolutely right."

It was in that moment I realized it was time to share my ideas and plans. This man later went on to tell me he was a conservative, a Republican and not to mention a Donald Trump supporter. But regardless of those factors, we were able to agree.

Now, observe the title of this article: Abolishing the two-party-system: preface, for this is only the beginning. In the weeks to come I will expand on the specific reasons why I believe that abolishing the two-party system will unite the people of America. My mission is to show the world that we do not need to agree to disagree - we can reason, and we can compromise.

Stay tuned.