This election year is particularly exciting for Christina because this is the first time she will get to exercise her American right to cast her vote for our next president. I asked her to put together her thoughts about getting to vote for president for the first time. Here is what she had to say:
Election Day by Christina...
This Election Day will be my first time voting. When I turned 18, I had already missed the last election so I’ve been looking forward to this for years! To people that have voted many times, it may not seem like anything special but to me (and the other interns – it’s their first time voting as well!) it’s exciting to for a few reasons:
1. We get to be involved and feel like active citizens for the first time. This might sound silly, but exercising our right to vote makes us feel like real adults.
2. We get to make our own decisions. A lot of people I know have had their parents instilling their beliefs in them since they were a kid. While there’s nothing wrong with this, and my parents have great input on politics, it’s nice to separate yourself from that and make a major decision based on your own beliefs.
3. Having the chance to vote gives us an opportunity to become more informed citizens. We research political platforms, we watch presidential debates, and we have conversations with our friends about the issues. All of these things help us to learn more about our country and world issues and become informed members of society.
4. We get to learn a lot about ourselves as well. As we learn about the candidates and their beliefs, we become more aware about what is important to us and what isn’t. We learn what separates us from our parents and our friends and what our values are.
5. We have a voice in who becomes the next president of our country for four years…and that’s pretty incredible.
If you’re a first time voter, don’t be afraid to ask questions or talk to people about the issues. Learn as much as you can and make an informed choice - remember, this is your vote and your voice. So get excited and get out there and vote!
I couldn't have said it better myself. I know many college students are feeling the same excitement about Election Day that Christina feels.
Do you still get excited about Election Day??
