My earliest memories of Election Day are filled with the overexcitement of a day off from school. I would go to the voting station multiple times during that second Tuesday of November, with either of my parents and my nanny, and use my sweet little begging and batting eyelashes to get my hands on as many “Today, I Voted” stickers as I could possibly rake in. As I got older, I began to understand the importance of the elections. This was probably at a much younger age than most, likely because I watched and discussed the news daily with my parents and was very interested in who the next President would be. I have incredibly fond memories of watching President Obama win the election in 2008 and the sense of relief I felt that this country could one day feel as equal and united as I hoped. I certainly felt that that dream wasn’t so far from reality when Obama won his second term in 2012. I was so certain that the citizens of America would truly begin to work more cohesively and prove wrong all who doubted the integrity of this great nation. I have, however, recently begun to doubt that integrity myself, which is something I’m not proud of nor is it something I would ever care to admit, but I can’t help but feel blinded by the negativity surrounding the upcoming election, which only grows with each new day that carries with it another debate, news outbreak, or shocking commentary by a candidate or another large political figure.

Yesterday, I received my absentee ballot in the mail and for the first time, it hit me – I will be voting in my first presidential election. And I realized this is a big deal. The first feeling was pure excitement, but that was quickly followed by fear, not of filling it out and sending it back to my town clerk, but a fear of everyone else who will be doing the same thing and potentially filling in a bubble for all the wrong reasons. For the first time in my life, I will actually have a say in the future of this country. I will no longer have to go along with what the adults around me say about the candidates because I am finally one of them and have earned my right to voice my opinion and have a valid statement in the conversation, and I am proud of that. The reason I bring this up is not to sway anyone in the direction of either candidate because as far as I am concerned, if you’ve already made up your mind about a particular candidate, especially given recently released tapes and recordings, then there’s no point in trying to argue with you about who is the best fit for this country, though there are times when I really wish I had the energy to do so. No, the reason I bring this up is because I want to encourage every single person, especially those of us who are eligible for the very first time, to go out and vote. This is a huge deal and as much as you may feel your singular vote doesn’t matter and that you shouldn't make the effort to get out there November 8th, I can only assure you that it really does. The world can be a scary place, but it’s only going to be scarier if our country falls into the hands of someone who isn’t nearly responsible enough to handle themselves, let alone maintain the integrity of the country.

So go out that Tuesday, not just to get a cool sticker, but to actually make an informed and well-planned vote for your city, state, and country. As young persons, this decision will truly affect some of the most important years of our lives, and not just yourselves but also your children, friends, parents, etc. Educate yourself. Don't make a blind vote. Try not to overlook the obvious discrepancies but also remember that every candidate is a human being and is not immune to a mistake. The real thing to look for is the comeback from that mistake and the positive changes that are then made.

I vow to be present in this election, not absent, silent, or uninformed.

Like I said, I’m not writing on this platform to stand on my soapbox and sway you toward either candidate. But for what it’s worth, I’m with her.