All my life I have grown up in Maryland, a majority Democratic state. Living so close to Washington, D.C., I have always been interested in politics. I remember when I was younger, my Dad explained to me the difference between the Republican and Democratic beliefs. Since then I have continued to learn and form my opinions. As part of the future generation of America, I feel it is important to comprehend politics, because we will ultimately be the ones to decide the direction our country follows.
This year I was fortunate enough to see the 2016 election up close. Many candidates from both sides were able to come and speak at my college in Iowa. My friends and I were also able to discuss and debate our views with representatives of the candidates.
We were also able to attend the Iowa Caucus. It was an amazing experience which made me proud to be an American, where I am free to vote and voice my opinion. In the past year, I have found that, as a college student, many people assume that I am a liberal; but there have been many factors and influences in my life that have made me the proud conservative I am today.
1. My religion.
As a Christian, I believe the liberal view on abortion is wrong. Every human being is the product of God’s creation, so why should we be able to decide if that creation lives or not? A baby’s life should not have less of a value than a 20 or 40-year-old’s life. If the 20 or 40-year-old is killed without their consent, it is called murder, yet many call abortion “a choice.” All babies should be given the chance at life, even if there is a risk.
When my mom was pregnant with my sister Gabi, my parents knew there was a possibility that she might have a genetic abnormality. If they had chosen to abort the pregnancy, our lives would be completely different. They could have given up on a perfectly capable child. It breaks my heart to know that hundreds of thousands of babies are aborted each year and are denied their chance at life.
2. My grandparents.
My mother’s parents legally immigrated to the United States from Bolivia more than 50 years ago. With only $13 and not knowing any English, they were able to gain citizenship, get an education and find a well paying job. Knowing how hard they worked and how much pride they have for their accomplishments makes me disagree with the liberal belief that illegal immigrants should be allowed into the United States. I also disagree that illegal immigrants should be provided the benefits that citizens receive such as a free education. Why should U.S. citizens have to pay to reward others for breaking the law? If you want to come to America like my grandparents decided to do, then shouldn’t you have to follow the proper rules in order to gain citizenship?
In my own life, I always find that when I follow the rules and put in the effort, I always feel more pride in my accomplishments than when I cut corners. The value of U.S. citizenship should not be taken for granted. I believe that everyone should have the right to come to America in order to achieve a better life for themselves and their families, but there should also be an effort to attain citizenship.
3. My work ethic.
I was raised with the belief that when you work hard and have an honest job, you will be paid or rewarded. My parents never gave me an allowance just for existing. If I wanted money then I would have to do chores, or a job around the house. This taught me the value of money and how to manage it. Now that I am older, I believe the same thing. If I want to have money to spend and support my everyday needs, then I will need to work in order to get what I want. I find it mind-boggling when I hear that liberal politicians want to provide money or welfare to individuals who are not working or to mothers who continue having babies out of wedlock. By rewarding individuals for doing nothing, it encourages them to continue to do nothing. It also takes away people's dignity when they are given something rather than earning it. And where is the money coming from to pay the people who are not working? It’s from the people who are working! This will never make sense to me. I am all for helping people during tough times, but this should not become a lifestyle.
As a college student and young adult, I am constantly being influenced to have a certain liberal mentality by some of my college professors or my peers. Although everyone is entitled to their own opinions, my experiences and upbringing have allowed me to form my own political views. I am proud of who I am and my conservative beliefs. As I continue throughout college, I will continue to listen to and evaluate opposing views, but in the end, I will use my own judgment to decide which side I will take.
