Politics as a teen that isn’t old enough to vote has been very interesting and hard, especially during this last election season. Have you ever been at the dinner table, and your parents started discussing politics, and you just had to sit there silently? The older you get, the more politics and government affect you. As much as these national problems are discussed, it’s not talked about enough how being unable to speak/vote your mind and opinions feels. Being asked by other peers and sometimes adults, "Which do you agree with?" can be challenging.

Being so young has advantages and disadvantages. Not being able to vote yet somewhat gives an ease because it’s another responsibility that we don't have to think about yet. But what if your opinions are so strong that just sitting there makes you even more nervous and anxious for elections? This 2024 election has been so wild and a pretty big one; almost everyone knows about it and its candidates. Are you wrong for having an opinion? No. Even if you don’t live in the U.S., you still might have thoughts and opinions, so why not speak them?

Politics can give friendships a thing to talk about or a reason to break them up. When talking about your opinions, it's important to keep others’ views in mind and how strong politics might be for them. These issues are discussed a lot of times in classes, especially in high schools. Some teachers can be biased, and that alters some of the information we receive. It is VERY important for us to be educated as teens, especially since we are close to voting age. Even if you are unsure, it is always good to read the news, listen to educational radio, or discuss topics in healthy ways.

It’s never a good idea to be in a conversation uneducated on the topic and just state random, untrue claims. Election seasons can be very stressful and energetic in a way, so get ready—we only have 4 years until we get in this mess again!