I remember the 2008 and 2012 election seasons very well. These were the first two where I felt really connected to and aware of what was going on in the country. While I didn't understand all of the issues and the party lines, I understood and appreciated Barack Obama. This was not only because my parents were supporters, but the household that I grew up in encouraged me to form my own opinions, listen and be aware as a new leader was elected or reelected.

There was a man who would stand on the major street corner near my house and wave a massive American flag with Obama yard signs hanging on it. People honked and cheered from their car windows. My mom always honked the horn and I thought it was the most exhilarating thing, seeing someone so connected to a cause that I knew, the presidential election, but not knowing that person at all. I guess the idea of everyone being impacted by the election was inspiring in a lot of ways for me. I didn't understand it when I was that young. I just thought it was so exciting.

Now it's 2016. I can say I love politics a lot, and I get weird looks when people hear me talk about that. High school introduced me to leadership programs and opportunities that helped further that love for politics. But now, eight years after Obama was elected, I'm in an entirely different place. I didn't have to worry about a lot when he was elected. But now that I am an adult, I see this election entirely differently.

In this election, I see a lot of hope, and it saddens me that so many don't see that. Hearing people say they'd rather move from this country than see either candidate elected, or that they have lost all hope in the political system because of this election, makes me so upset.

This election I decided I wanted to be active in supporting the candidate I truly love. I am a young woman, and I understand at least some things about politics and current issues, and I could not be more excited about Hillary Clinton.

At this point in the article, I wouldn't be surprised if most of you clicked back over to reading Facebook or shut this window of your browser. If that isn't the case, I appreciate it.

I've attended three phone banking events for "Hillary for America" so far. I've donated a few dollars where I can. But most of all, I have been so very empowered by the few people I have met in campaigning that I couldn't wait to share.

I met a mother, taking time out of her Saturday (after a PTA meeting she told me about), that had battled a life-threatening illness. Obamacare saved her and her family. Hillary Clinton had inspired her from the time she was a teenager as a leader for women.

I met an older woman who told me with so much passion that she was so excited to see a young person helping out with the campain because she knew we needed the youth vote.

And I met the phone bank organizer, someone who I could tell had such a good heart. She told me she had been a registered Republican until recently, had become so afraid of the hatred on that side of the aisle, had switched over and was now leading the phone banking for Hillary.

Not only was I so welcomed in by the volunteers, but I was so inspired. I was afraid to go to the phone bank. It was a step out of my comfort zone even though I had made calls for my congressman previously. But I felt guilt for not contributing soon enough to such a crucial election.

Meeting so many good people was inspiring. Getting to dial strangers and say with excitement, "Hi, my name is Sophia and I'm a volunteer for Hillary for America," was an absolute joy. It made me feel the same excitement that I felt in 2008 when I saw Malia, Sasha, Michelle and Barack step onto the stage under the confetti as he won the election.

The reason I'm writing this is because I'm tired of hearing some of the talk about this election. After I heard the stories of my new friends from the campaign, hearing people describe Secretary Clinton as "the lesser of two evils" or "a liar and not someone we can trust" broke my heart. The stories I hear about her are so far-fetched and out of hate that it makes me upset. When, on the other side, we have someone who has several sexual assault allegations, voices his opinions through an unfiltered Twitter account of his own, who is racist and wants abortion to be punishable by law, how can we ever say that Hillary Clinton is equal to him?

She has worked for children and families her entire professional life. She has been involved with the government in every way possible, and has more experience fighting for Americans through public office than any candidate has had, ever. The allegations made against her are either not founded on clear evidence, disproven or the same kind of mistakes any politician would be expected to make. There are incorrect claims about the Clinton Foundation and hypocrisy, talk about her husband's actions, the email mistake (and I say mistake because it was utterly blown out of proportion) and the Benghazi tragedy and they all seem to have fallen on her shoulders. Benghazi was a tragedy, but not something you can blame on a single elected official. Hillary using a private server was simply something she should have asked permission for, not a national security disaster. And the Clinton Foundation does profound work for people all over the world. I wonder often how it would be if Hillary were a male politician running against Donald Trump, and I feel confident in saying I believe she'd have an easier win.

And that's why she empowers me. Because in every defeat, every bit of ridicule and through every insult she receives, she stands with so much pride and continues to do her job to the best she can. She has stood for women and children, has stood for the middle class and she fights tirelessly for minorities. There is no doubt she has made mistakes, but we all have. The actions that Donald Trump has taken have not been mistakes, they have been deliberate choices to discriminate, sexually assault women and conduct business in fraudulent ways. When I see Hillary, I see hope for my future--a future in which I will have access to healthcare, where discrimination will not be part of the agenda of my leader and where Americans will be the priority. I'm not just voting for her because she is a woman; I'd vote for her if she were a man in a heartbeat. But to see a woman able to stand up to so much hatred while fighting the good fight is inspiring in so many ways. I see not only a leader, but a role model and fighter. In Hillary, I see four years of continued progress. In her ambition, I see the next president of the United States.

In the next two weeks, I get to be a part of a Hillary for America team to get out the vote and help volunteers make calls. I'm so excited to elect someone so fearless, kind, hard-working and experienced to the highest office in our country. And I'm even more excited for her to prove every person who has spoken with hate about her wrong.