When I was younger, I became interested in politics. To feed my interests, my mom bought me a book about the US presidents. As involved as I got in reading that book, it eventually dawned upon me that I would one day have to vote. That thought stuck with me, and one of the first things I did when I turned 18 was register. Now, registering doesn’t necessarily mean a person knows all about how the government works. I honestly didn’t know what was going on. My economics class that I sook senior year helped me to understand that. I also realized how close the next elections were.

Fast forward. Today, 2016. People everywhere are taking in information on the different candidates through political debates, news reports, and different interviews. I’ve been participating and am actually excited – this is what I’ve been waiting for since I was a little girl. However, there’s a question that everyone’s been asking that is a little touchy for me: Who are you voting for?

Growing up, I was always taught about 3 taboo topics. You don’t talk about money, religion, and politics. This is something that I also plan on teaching my children. These are the 3 topics (now coupled with a fourth one: sexuality) that most often rend to cause problems in conversation. Why do my friends need to know exactly how much I make as a hostess? They don’t. Should I preach my religion to everyone who walks through the door at work or at school? No, and I really shouldn’t. Why do I have to tell everyone which party I align myself with and who I’m voting for?

Like most young adults, I have a vision for what I want the US to be one day. I hope to have a family, a good job, and to be successful in the country that I’m proud to call home. With those goals in mind, I wonder who will really run this country? It’s up to us, the people, the citizens of the United States of America.

So many people around me have no problem voicing their opinions of who they are voting for and what they believe in. Even though I choose not to openly voice my opinion, it makes me happy to hear other people talk about that they stand for. We each are entitled to our own opinions. I certainly do not agree with everything others have to say; however, being an avid listener listening to what my peers and elders so strongly believe in is important. It is important to understand and hear what others believe in to open your mind to other issues. Regardless of your color, race, ethnic background, social status, or what religion you believe in being an American citizen together it is our job to vote for the future of our country.