Hello everyone!
Have you ever wondered why politics, the news, and other “adult” topics of discussion even matter? I’ve definitely been in your shoes. Up until high school, I honestly was stuck in my own little world. I think the key turning point was reading more. It started out with the infamously unreliable Snapchat news stories and Buzzfeed (I still love a good Buzzfeed quiz), and soon I was actually watching the morning news when my parents would leave it on every day.
If you’re in a similar boat and have remained ignorant of these topics for a while- it’s still okay! We’re obviously young and everyone matures differently- these are more serious topics that might not hold everyone’s attention yet. However, if you’re starting to hold an interest in politics, I HIGHLY recommend taking action to pursue it. Here are a couple reasons why, if you need some extra convincing.
- In a few years, you’ll be eligible to vote – Depending on your age, this might be sooner rather than later. Voting is habit-forming according to lots of different studies, so it’s important you vote in your first election that you’re eligible to. You’ll want to be educated on the candidates and make an informed decision, so you have to learn a little about politics first. This is a super important duty as a US citizen, so if you’re not convinced by any of the other reasons below, think of this one.
- It’s useful to be in the know for conversing with adults – This is a little silly and superficial, but it’s still true. If you can hold your own in some political banter between adults, you’ll come off as a lot more mature. Also, it might just be nice to know what the heck your family members are talking about, or what’s actually going on when the evening news is on in the background.
- We are the generation new laws will mainly impact (and generations to come) – The current political climate is the political climate we are going to inherit. Again, it’s important to be educated on what’s going on in the country you live in once you’re an adult, so why not start now? We are the ones with the power to shape the future, but you can’t shape the future without studying the past/present.
- There’s so many scary developments in our world – Between climate change, gun violence, and everything else, it’s a scary world out there. It’s important to be aware of these issues since they’re constantly hot topics of conversation and have recently blended into pop culture/the media.
- You have a voice, so why not use it – Teens can and do make a difference in the world; just look at some of the activists out there killing it, like Greta Thunberg! You never know what will happen if you start utilizing your freedom of expression and making your opinions be known. I honestly wish I was more outgoing with this, but maybe I can inspire some of you to be.
It’s totally okay if you’re not super into politics or current events, but I still think it’s an important topic for every teen to try and inform themselves a little bit about. I have mad respect for the kids out there who know every political candidate and attend all these conferences/debates/etc.- I would love to be that involved, but I’m just not there yet in my involvement or knowledge. If you’re still unsure- start small! I didn’t really do anything related to government and politics until joining Youth and Government this year, and it’s been a great decision.
-Brooke
adventures of a typical high school student 