What I Learned 4 Years Ago Compared to Today – The Rocky Mountain Collegian

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I had the privilege of being a senior in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections. Even though I’m not old enough to vote in 2020, I’ve noticed that there’s a big difference in the way voting is discussed in my classes now compared to when many were in school My classmates took part in the Bundestag election as eligible voters for the first time ever.

Before this article continues, there are a few important things to consider: What my political landscape looked like in both years. I attended a public high school in southern Colorado that was conservative while trying to be neutral. I graduated from high school in 2021, so it was the height of the COVID-19 era when all this happened.

I’m now studying journalism with a minor in women’s studies at Colorado State University. I tend to analyze certain topics like politics in class, but they are not the focus.

“When I was in high school, I never saw anything that would help students be more informed about voting and the decisions they make.”

During my senior year of high school, I took two courses that had a bit of politics involved: English and American Government. However, in my senior year, my English class discussed political issues more than my government class.

When we discussed political issues in high school, we usually gained a basic understanding of how our government works and were often asked to do our own research and present it to the class. Unless anyone has recently taken a course full of individual research, this meant that many of our conversations were tailored to our own beliefs on the topics.

The problem with understanding what I learned in high school versus what I learned in college is that I can only remember two things that were brought up during my government class and that is related to politics. One discussion centered on Ruth Bader Ginsburg after her death and her impact on the U.S. Supreme Court, including how her seat would likely be filled. Another concerned the events at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.

I don’t remember ever talking about the ballot or what was discussed. Honestly, most of what I remember about the ballot from my K-12 school is the time in 8th grade when my teacher showed us her ballot and discussed it with us. The only problem was that none of us could vote.

As a student, not only am I now old enough to be properly informed, but in my classes we actually have conversations about our current political climate, particularly as it relates to the current presidential candidates and immigration.

As I am a student taking courses that focus on identities and the impact of certain aspects of media, my professors do their best to make it clear that they do not support any particular political party. Separately, I learn more about how immigrants are perceived in the media, the importance of identity in the current election, and especially how certain candidates like former President Donald Trump are using their media to present themselves as ideal candidates.

I’ll also learn more about how I can use my personal knowledge to my advantage in the upcoming election.

Not only can I use my own learning to make a big impact on my future, but I am also fortunate to have resources like… Those of the college Election guides and places on campus that help me better understand and explain the political process.

When I was in high school, I never saw anything that would help students be more informed about the choice and decisions they make. Maybe that’s because it was a COVID year and no one was quite sure what was going on. Or maybe it’s because of where I went to high school, but either way there was no real support to help me and my classmates be more informed as voters.

With new voters turning 18 every day, it is very important for high school classes to show more support for these young voters, especially considering that Generation Z is expected to have a major influence in this year’s elections.

Reach Dominique Lopez at [email protected] or on Twitter @caffeinateddee6.