Sure, you can’t vote, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting involved in the presidential election.
For all of us in high school, the 2016 presidential election will be the first election of our lifetimes that could very well have a significant impact on our futures. The next president and their policies will affect our college experiences and quite possibly our subsequent careers. Decades from now, while looking back on the educational and economic opportunities available and how we were able to direct our lives with or without the help of our government, we will most likely attribute those conditions to our next president.

Although social media and some classroom conversations skim the surface of the election, the unfortunate reality is that most high school students remain ignorant to the election. This ignorance stems from a lack of interest as well as a lack of understanding of the politics which determine our futures. As a direct result of this disengagement, we may be restricting our future opportunities.

Think about it this way: What if teens were as engaged in politics as they are in sports or entertainment? What if all teens were able and expected to sit down with older generations and have a respectful conversation about their country’s leaders? What if politics, especially the topics concerning presidential elections, were introduced and applied to educational curricula across the country, and students were encouraged to form their own opinions?

I don’t believe that teenagers, at least those younger than the age of 18, should vote. That is not what I am proposing, but as a demographic that is represented equally under our democracy, we should also be able to make our own judgements about what we want to see in our society. I don’t believe that you need to vote to be able to develop your own opinions or to advocate for what you believe in. Whether you’re fifteen or fifty-three, I think that if you have the ability to turn on your TV or to open the New York Times, then you have the ability to learn a little something about what’s going on in your country. Reading, watching, listening, and discussing is all it takes. Don’t let your your age stop you–your opinions and rhetoric are enough to make the change that you want to see for your futures.