A Changing America

The Youth in America

The polls are closed for the 2018 US midterm elections.  The House is blue, the Senate is red.  This is a historic election year.  The house has shifted to democratic control for the first time in 8 years, and congress now has nearly 100 women.  There were, of course, upsets.  Beto O’Rourke not winning the Texas seat in the Senate is one of the standouts.  However, we have a Muslim woman, an openly gay governor, and the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.  I sit here tonight hopeful in my country.  In times that seem so dim, this election has proved that there is a glimmer of hope at the conclusion of this seemingly endless road.   

What I want to focus on though, is my immense pride at the people of my generation.  The old Gen-Z kids and the Millennials that everyone loves to bash so much.  I am incredibly proud to be a part of the generation I am in.  We may have been raised in a world with more readily available technology, and social media that can shape who we are, but we use it smartly.  We showed up to the polls today.  We educated ourselves.  We voted our minds.  I saw this not only on my college campus, but all around the country.  According to preliminary results from an ABC election poll, the youth (ages 18-29) make up almost 15% of voters in this election.  It does not seem like a large number, I know.  Overall however, there was an almost 188% increase in youth voters.  The numbers show a pride in our country.  It shows that the youth are not the superficial displays our social media accounts may show.  We have an actual voice.  This year we used our voice.  

The students of America may have an advantage regarding social media.  Coming from a college student, who follows mainly college students and older high schoolers, my feed was filled with students proclaiming they voted.  I saw students reminding their friends to vote.  My friends who are still too young to vote spoke up.  They reminded us not to neglect our civic duties.  I do not think we disappointed them.  The excitement in the air today was so thick it could be felt.  Students were going to each other and asking their friends to vote.  I know students who drove home because their absentee ballots did not get turned in on time.  I cannot deny that a small part of this excitement may have been due to the stickers handed out at the polling locations.  I cannot deny that I also know many students who did not vote.  Regardless, most students who have the platform to speak out did.  The effects of this were felt.   

I am not even purely praising democrats.  I am praising any young American who made their voices heard today.  You cannot have a democracy without opposition.  That is simply a fact.  I may not come close to agreeing with the current state of our capitol, but it is important that all Americans speak their mind.  I am glad the House flipped, do not get me wrong, but I am also glad that students are feeling so impassioned as to go vote.  I hope one day, that this country becomes less polarized, and the parties become less hostile.  I know that my generation is looking forward to a better America.  I know that we stand in morality, and humanity.  I know that my generation can change the state of the country.  I know that my fellow students, my fellow minimum wage workers, and young professionals can all come together to create a less divided America, and for that I am proud.  I am proud to be young, and I know that we can change the world.  

With love and hope, 

Sam Rose