Somewhere between all of the political banter, I realized how many individuals vote based on the endorsement of others. They vote for Trump because their brother is voting for Trump, they vote for Sanders because their mom loves Sanders, and so on and so forth. Now, before I get on my soapbox here, I am in no way trying to express my political views about a certain party or candidate. I am simply writing this to let my generation know that it is not only your privilege to be able to vote, but it is your duty to vote, and hopefully you take that task seriously.

Now, with all that being said, IF you are over the age of 18 and you are a registered voter your vote does count. However, that vote is for you and for your mind only. Rihanna shouldn't be influencing your decision; neither should Ellen -- even though she is queen. Your vote is based on your thoughts and opinions; if you don't like any of the candidates and you think Kanye would make a great president, then that is your right and no one can tell you that's wrong. Now, if you tweet about it, I am silently judging you for your lapse in judgment, but at the end of the day it is your life. The only way a change can occur in this country is for individuals to not only exercise their right to vote, but to vote for what they want. If Sally really wants socialism, but her husband Bob really wants communism, and Sally votes for the candidate her husband does, Sally will be disappointed because she never sees the change she wants. She doesn't see that change because the candidate's ideals didn't align with her own. Is that the candidates fault? No, they cannot please everyone. Sally should've at least made an educated vote, instead of just voting with her husband and hoping for the best.

Another soap box: Voting for someone because of their looks, gender, race, etc. does not mean they will do a good job. No, I am not addressing our outgoing President, because that election was, in my mind, based on much more than race. However, for someone to say they are voting for Hillary Clinton because she is a woman, or they are not voting for her for the same reason, has to be the most ignorant thing I have heard. She is no more and no less capable of serving as president than was George Washington, JFK, or FDR. To base it off her gender is as petty as saying I am voting for her because she has nice hair. The Presidency is not and should not be a popularity contest, but it seems like much of the issues these days turn into concerns outside of the political concerns. We would have more educated voters for the Grammy's than we do for the Office of the President, and that is truly sad. Should each candidate make a movie that we all sit through and then we can vote? That is truly sad.

So my challenge to you is to look at the issues that each candidate addresses, and look at the candidate that is most focused on achieving on what you want to see done. Last but not least, get up from your three day Netflix binge and go vote. We have the power to change the election or at least have our voices heard. We are the next generation to lead and run this country, we have to start making educated rational choices to succeed in the future.