With the sights and smells of autumn falling upon us, the whispers and shouts of politics are in the air as well. It can sometimes seem that in these fateful election years, adults talk relentlessly about the polls and “the issues.” Why are they so entranced with events that go on miles and miles away in DC? And even more importantly, why should students care about these events when they cannot even vote? The answer lies in education, communication and hope.
In a tale as old as time, people will naturally become flustered and defensive when they do not understand what others think they are supposed to. This is the case with politics and adolescents. Younger generations are constantly being bombarded with comments about how it is their job to “save the world” that older people left them. That is a lot of pressure for young people, so you cannot blame them for wanting to deflect. However, you should lean into that discomfort and responsibility that is being thrown at you with education.
We are constantly learning in classes about history, but the truth is that we are currently living America’s future textbooks. Like it or not, you have a role to play in politics, so you might as well put on your best politician grin and look into the issues that interest you. Tapping into discomfort and healthy discourse are some of the healthiest habits that humans can have. If you practice these things in politics, they improve your chances of being successful when faced with conflict in other aspects of your life.
Additionally, communication as pre-voters is an essential skill to put into practice. After educating yourself on issues that you care about, you can then look up what your representatives have to say about it. Even as a young person, elected officials are supposed to be serving everybody in the community, not just those that voted. So call them up. Tell them your thoughts. Let your voice and opinions be heard because they deeply matter whether you think so or not. Obviously, they probably will not connect you with the exact person, but someone in that office will take a message or pass a note. It is always worth communicating, especially with local officials.
Most of the time, when thinking about politics, people focus on the big picture, like the White House or Congress. While these branches do have an effect on our livelihoods, the greater impact that we can see is through local offices. They also have a greater stake in our specific community and are much easier to get a hold of as they serve less people. Local representatives do control so much of our day-to-day lives that when you take an interest and opinion of them, you are actively taking control of your life and the wellbeing of those around you. Additionally, by educating yourself now and connecting with officials, you are fostering hope for your tomorrow.
The truth is that someday in the near future, our current young people will be the voters of America. They will be deciding the type of world they want to see and the change they want to implement. Hope, like the other skills aforementioned, works best in practice. After educating yourself enough to care about an issue or two, you are guaranteed to not only be inspired by it, but also be hopeful about it. The act of voting is a powerful thing that one should not take for granted, but never forget that education, hope and communication are just as important parts of politics.
