Between juggling school, sports, social life and a few hours of sleep in-between, it’s hard to keep up with current events. Even getting to read the Skimm  in the morning is something to struggle with when Snapchat  is just so appealing (sorry Mrs. Chase).  A large and upcoming event that it’s not bad to be slightly ashamed or have little knowledge and keeping up with the newest presidential election.  

Being on the youngest side of the voters, it’s intimidating to hear adults talk about what direction a ‘young adult’ should take.  Sometimes it’s hard to not question, ‘Why even worry about this, it’s not like it’ll have that big of an effect.” But, as we need to realize, the next person who leads our country will be doing so until we’re in our 20s.  By then, the next stage in life is independence, looking for a job, paying taxes, and maybe even student loans.  So even when it’s hard to listen to adults when they try to push you one way or another, it is pretty important to be paying attention as to what the leader of this country is going to do.

It’s crazy to even think about the leadership role our president plays. Even crazier to think that one day, someone in our generation will be looking towards achieving that position.  Imagine one of your friends leading our country.  

While it’s fun to sit back and laugh at the ridiculous and heinous things Donald Trump humors us with, we need to be looking at a bigger picture.  This is our future and if we don’t take control of it, then who will. Or as in the wise words of Emma Watson, “If not now, when? If not you, who?”

Of millenials ages 18-24 only 38% of them vote.  Compared to the 75.9% of adults ages 45-64 years old.  Do you really want your parents making even more decisions for you than they already do?

Already at Academy we have had many girls participate in governmental events including Mayor’s Youth Corps, Global Youth Leadership Program, and National Youth Leadership Confrence to get them more involved in current events.  Being socially aware of these events can only improve the stereotypical mindset adults have that we are not ‘up to date.’

So the next time your parents have a debate on, or you’re at the dinner table trying to zone them out, perk up a little bit. Even taking small steps of action like reading the Skimm or keeping CNN your automatic Safari page are small ways to help educate yourself. You never know, you might just be the first female president.