If you identify as a millennial, you've probably heard what they're saying about us. They call us "Generation Me." They claim our generation is only good for generating Instagram likes and that we've gone from self absorbed to selfie absorbed. Newsflash: That's not who we are as a generation. I'm mad, and you should be too! Get yourself to a voting booth on November 8th, 2016. Your vote counts.

I approached my friends about their knowledge of the election, and it proved quite hilarious. Here are some things they said:

"Hillary is going to kick ass." - Savannah Savage

" Trump is going to die of embarrassment." - Pavithra Srinivasan

"Jeb Bush is going to bring a Bible to the presidential debate." - Aasmitha Chitturi

I've recently made my way through the naturalization process after being a politically aware human with no real power my whole life. I am beyond excited to be able to vote in the 2016 election, and have found that, after turning 18, political issues have a great impact on my own personal life.

While I don't yet know who I'm going to vote for in 2016, I have been researching a lot about the candidates and trying to see whose platforms represent my beliefs. As a young woman, I'm particularly concerned about what the future president's stances are on abortion, gay marriage, healthcare, and education.

Here are some statements made by leading candidates that could become truth in 2016:

1. "Land of the free shouldn't become land of the free lunch." - Bobby Jindal on regulations on free lunch programs in public schools

2. "Art education is needed in our schools... research demonstrates that instruction in the arts...enables a child to enhance their reasoning, their spatial understanding, and their analytical abilities." - Hillary Clinton on art education in schools

3. "Let us wage a moral and political war against war itself, so that we can cut military spending and use that money for human needs." - Bernie Sanders on military spending cuts

4. "The radical feminists succeeded in undermining the traditional family and convincing women that professional accomplishments are the key to happiness." - Rick Santorum on "radical feminism"

5. "In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side...It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate. - Jeb Bush on the SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality

Come November 8th, please consider making your voice heard by voting in the election. Research these candidates' platforms. I suggest www.ontheissues.org, so you can see how these people have voted on major issues in the past, and make an educated decision. Make your vote COUNT!