The Power Your Voice and Vote Hold

In 2008, we had a mock election at my elementary school. Teachers told us to vote for whichever man looked like someone we trusted more or even vote for the tie, blue or red, that we liked better. In third grade, in my upper middle class suburban school, the man with the red tie, John McCain, won our mock election.

It wasn’t even close. And no one was surprised by that. I was probably about nine when this happened and while I voted for the man with the blue tie, barely anyone else did. We didn’t make a choice based on the color of tie they wore. Instead, we chose the man our parents talked about and told us would be the next President of the United States.

Growing up, we often take our parents’ views as our own. We take the views we hear spouted across the dinner table and see them as ultimatums. Until we’re old enough to get jobs or go off to college, many of us don’t think about the bigger picture and where we fit into it. We hardly have views of our own.

I like to think that I already had a decent sense of self by the time I went to college. I had opinions outside of my parents’ but still had a lot of growing to do. Education that wasn’t mandated by state TEKS and being surrounded by people out of my white suburban bubble opened my eyes. I was seeing and hearing about things that were never uttered back home. I learned about land acknowledgements and the bloody battle that occurred for the land my college was built on. I learned about healthcare and reproductive rights and how those rights were slowly being taken away.

During my first semester on campus, November rolled around and voting was talked about with such importance. Sure, my parents voted, but I didn’t understand the weight voting holds. Schools never mentioned the importance or value. They just pushed it off as something to deal with in the future when we were 18 or older. I knew of civic engagement, but didn’t know when or how to be involved. My first election at school was a whirlwind. In nearly every class I was in, we had Voter Deputy Registrars come in, register us with our new addresses, and explain where to vote on campus. Our professors encouraged us to vote—they gave us resources and some even ended class early so we could vote.

I had a general idea of what I cared about and what issues I was voting on, but not nearly to the extent I do today. I had barely started forming more of my own beliefs and views, but it was a start. I barely did any research and went and cast my vote for Beto and some other people who were canvassing around the polling location.

Many people where I’m from live in complacency. Not everyone, but the vast majority. People don’t want to stir the pot and would rather conform to the majority. Going to college showed me not only how many people continue to live in complacency, but also the importance of finding our own thoughts and views. Every single vote matters in the upcoming election and complacency won’t cut it.

Shaping your own views outside of your parents, your friends, your university and your place of work is not only liberating, but necessary. You are your own person and therefore you must have your own views. Not having a say in politics or not caring is a privilege, because many of us vote like our lives depend on it, and frankly they do.

Similar to that mock election in 2008, I’m going to cast my vote this week. The difference is, the vote I’m making is 100% mine. No person or group is influencing my decision. I did the research and found what issues I care about. After two years in college, I’ve finally found my voice and have views that are my own. My vote is reflective of MY values, MY expectations and what I care about, and so should yours.

By Emma Bittner

Rom-Com fanatic and coffee connoisseur with a little bit of “I wanna save the world” in me.

Finding Our Voices

The Power Your Voice and Vote Hold