By Collegiate Staff
With the election only a few days away, many are filled with uncertainty. As young people in the United States, the decisions made by our leaders greatly impact our future. While talking about politics can be draining for some, it is important to cast your vote. By voting, you make your voice heard, and if all college students voted, we would see a change in our country. Members of The Collegiate reflected on how we feel, as college students, and voters, going into election week.
Kennedy Mapes, 21, Muskegon
Going into this election I am a bundle of mixed emotions. I am concerned, I am nervous, and I am angry, but I am also trying to remain hopeful. This is the most important election of our lives. There is so much at stake and it is extremely frustrating that people either don’t see it or are choosing to ignore it. This election is not a political one anymore. This election is about the rights of human beings in this nation and the fact that so many people are continuing to knowingly be on the wrong side of history is cause for major concern. Racism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia, and transphobia have always existed in this country, but in the past four years, these terrible concepts and the people who stand behind them have felt that they could reveal themselves to the world because we have a President who not only condones hate, but actively participates in it. I am scared for what might happen if we are forced to suffer through another four years of a Trump presidency when he isn’t up for re-election. I am scared for my rights as a woman, the rights of Black people and other people of color, and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community as an ally. I’m scared for low income families, no, any person really, and their ability to receive adequate, affordable healthcare. Yes, both candidates have issues and the American people feel that they are, yet again, having to choose the lesser of two evils, but in my opinion, that choice is an obvious one. One presidential candidate refused to condemn white supremacy when asked and the other did not. One presidential candidate is endorsed by members of the opposite party, 24 current and former presidents and leaders of other nations, several former U.S presidents, human rights activists, and the “Scientific American,” while the other is endorsed by white supremacist groups and zero former Republican presidents. With all of that being said, voter turnout has more than surpassed the 2016 election, and I am hopeful that people are waking up. I am hopeful that the young people in this world who see injustice and see that America is not great, and never will be great if we continue to allow our country to be run the way that it is now, are getting out there and voting. I am not sure what the results of this election will look like. I know what I am wishing for every single day, but everything is so uncertain. If Trump wins again, I am concerned about how people will react. I am sure we will see a spike in depression, anger, among other things. If Biden wins, I am afraid it will coax the hateful groups who support Trump to come further out of their hiding. I am also afraid that Trump will claim the election was fraudulent and the case will go to the, now Republican majority, Supreme Court. I don’t know what to expect, but what I do know is that it is going to be unlike anything any of us have ever seen.
Kaia Zimmerman, 18, Lowell
I am nervous about the upcoming election. I think this election has a lot at stake and is definitely the most important election in my lifetime. I think it is so important that everyone goes out and votes, especially young people. This election, I am hopeful, and I do think young voters will turn out more than in the past, but I am nervous for the results, and what will happen after the election. I am also excited because this is my first time voting in a big election, and I will be voting in person. I think this election is so important especially for people who have been treated unfairly by the current administration. As someone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I am very scared of what will happen if Trump gets four more years because in his first term, he has tried to take away our rights constantly. I know I am and others are scared of what will happen if Trump gets four more years, so I encourage everyone to go vote and make change happen.
Mya Gregory, 18, Grand Rapids
While watching the debates, seeing memes about a second civil war on social media, and watching hilarious TikToks about the upcoming election, it’s easy to find this political climate humorous and honestly, unbelievable. But then, there are those moments when I sit back, and I realize, this is real. These jokes that we make on social media aren’t just hypothetical situations, they’re actually happening, and 10 years ago, if you would have told me that this is where our country would be, I would have laughed and thought it was a joke. It’s my first time voting, and I have been more involved in politics than ever before in my life. I am trying my best to stay positive, get myself informed, and be open-minded, but it’s difficult. And, going into this election, I’m not going to lie, I am terrified. I am not only terrified of the rights I may lose, along with the rights many others may lose. But, no matter which candidate comes out with the victory, I am nervous. I am nervous about how our country is going to react, how both candidates are going to react, and what comes next. I am hopeful that after the next president is announced, people will be civilized, open-minded, and empathic, but I have a feeling that this won’t be the case. So, I encourage other people, especially those who are in a similar position as I am, to research, become informed, go out and vote, be respectful to others, and after the next president is announced, no matter if it was the candidate you were hoping to win, take a deep breath, and do what you can to make this country a better place.
Connor Lannen, 18, Allendale
The overplayed stereotype of tumultuous politics talk at Thanksgiving dinner has never rang more true than the times we are living in right now. It seems as no one has a right to have an opinion that others disagree with anymore without hostility arising from it. Not enough people look at facts and policies but instead follow strict party lines and insult anything from the opposing party without even finding out the true impact behind the policies. I don’t know whether to attribute this hostility to the advances in social media or the political figures that are at the head of our country right now. I know many people that will not be friends with others that have different political views and that is very sad to see. Everyone should be able to hold their own respectful opinion without having their character attacked for it. I think it should be normalized to take different policies you like from each party and support those policies, it shouldn’t be so black and white. Social media has opened our minds to many different things but in politics it seems to do the opposite and close people’s minds. The current political climate is a sad reality we are living in currently and unfortunately I do not see it getting better after this election, regardless of the winning candidate.
Annah Johnson, 23, Holland
I feel like we had a lot to be grateful for. The state of our country in the last 50 years (maybe minus the whole pandemic part,) had drastically improved. It is easy to see that we were at a time in history where women, Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals all experienced more opportunity than ever before. Without being too cynical, I do genuinely believe we have taken giant strides toward being a better place for people of all kinds to call home. Looking at the Trump presidency, I don’t feel that all hope is lost – but I do feel that the country became less focused on improvement and creating community. Coming from a pretty conservative family, and being a liberal/female/LGBTQ individual myself, navigating what the last four years have meant is difficult. I find nothing wrong with those who sit on the other side of the party line than me, but I do find it wrong to think less of other people because of their skin color, who they love, or how much money they don’t have. Trump has emboldened a hateful part of the nation I wanted to think was small. The specific traits of his administration have modeled that the mocking and marginalization of groups of people is acceptable. His personality has normalized and encouraged a brash and hateful approach to handle problems within our nation. I believe that the things we should be proud of as a nation are the leaps and bounds we have taken to understand each other and cohabitate. When Barack Obama explained that if you could put yourself at any point in history, you would want to be in America in modern times, I felt that. Before Trump was our president, I truly felt that. However, a Trump presidency does not feel like an effort to cohabitate. It does not feel like an effort to have mutual respect. His rhetoric feels divisive. I want to believe that I will be able to sit across from someone who voted differently than me one day, and not feel like they had made a decision with that vote that undermined the existence of another American. I love my country. We have so much to offer and a lot to be proud of, but this does not mean that we cannot fight to make it better. True patriotism is holding your leaders accountable for their actions and pushing for more improvement towards harmony. I tried my best to be that kind of patriot with my vote for president. I hope enough people do the same.
Sean Chase, 30, Newaygo
As the presidential election nears, I feel an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. The world no longer feels like a safe place for differing opinions to grow. Currently, we are operating on a two-party political system. Making people feel like a vote for an independent party is throwing away their vote, hopefully the insanity of this year will force us to rethink the system we allow to govern us, to make our society a fair place for all people. It seems like violence is going to erupt no matter who wins the presidential election, but we, as a society, need to choose peace, kindness, and love over all else when times get tough.
Breegan Petruska, 20, Grand Rapids
I am a first time voter, so I am excited to be able to voice my opinion by voting in this year’s election. With that being said, I am also very scared. There is no doubt in my mind that however this election turns out, good or bad, something big is going to happen. I pay a lot of attention to social media, so I see how the news is negatively affecting all kinds of people. I can only hope that once this election is over, we can make it to a time where things settle and feel peaceful. We are all very stressed and anxious to see what is going to happen, so hopefully, with the mail-in ballots it won’t take too terribly long to find out the results.
