When people find out I'm a political science major, they instantly think the next part of the conversation will consist of me demonstrating my political platform and emphasizing my beliefs (no Trump please). However, unless specifically asked, this isn't how I operate. I wish people would stop assuming this to be the case.
Political science is a complex major and there are many complexities in the world, so while I have an opinion on most things, I probably won't talk about all of them. Sometimes, I either haven't looked into the whole situation, or I have only heard one side and I don't want to misinform you. I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion as long as they come to their opinion properly.
However, if you do ask my opinion on a situation, I will give you the most thought-out opinion I have. I'll try and give both sides while also giving you the proper resources on where to look up more information.
To me, the utmost priority is making sure that everyone is informed in the best way possible. Nothing makes me more upset than when someone makes a political opinion based off of misinformation.
The most upsetting thing to me as a political science major isn't that people get their information from corporate media (which is bad enough,) but it's when people believe every damn article they read on Facebook and every shaming Tumblr post out there.
Just because some writes an article about something, doesn't mean it's true. I know it is surprising. I'm sure you've heard it before, but let me reemphasize something: not everything you read, hear, or see is true!
So do me a favor, the next time you hear news you find interesting, or you're unsure about, look it up. Look up the history and the background. Look up different political ideologies about it, and above all question your own opinion.
We all have been shaped by our childhoods, our families, our hometowns, and so many other things. It is interesting to analyze who you are and notice how this joins in with your opinion about the election, about wars, about anything.
Understanding both sides is the best way to make the most informed decision you can, but let me warn you: it is hard to be informed about everything. Remember that the next time you talk to a political science major and they seem hesitant to give their opinion on the latest development in the election or the latest news about situations occurring in the Middle East.
As we head into the 2016 Presidential Election, I think we all can agree that this race is going to be an interesting one, and I can promise that almost all political science majors will have an informed opinion about it. Just know that hearing these different opinions is a beautiful thing, but nothing is more satisfying than knowing you developed your own opinion through your own research.
