Opinion: As a first-time voter, I feel empowered knowing I can make a difference in Colorado and across the country

When I was almost six years old, I remember the feeling of the living room carpet beneath me as I sat in front of a monitor showing Barack Obama’s determined face during the 2012 presidential election debates. As the smell of dinner being prepared wafted from the kitchen, the speakers made his voice warble slightly.

My gaze focused on Obama’s face and I noticed that every word he uttered he did so with grace and a cocky belief that instilled confidence in me. When a voice called me to dinner, I reluctantly moved from my seat in front of the television, still staring at the screen. As I left the room, I remember feeling a thick aura of hope hanging in the air.

From that point on, politics and government were an integral part of my life. For as long as I can remember, it has been a family tradition to sit at the dinner table with steaming hot food and listen to my parents and siblings – and as I grew older, even me – debate and discuss what was happening in the world. Sometimes we argued loudly around a shared table, but it was all part of another lesson my parents taught me, which was that passion is a good thing, especially in politics.

Day after day, at the dinner table, I gathered little bits of information that helped me realize what was most important to me as an American, a Muslim, a woman, and a human being.

Being part of a politically conscious family, I always knew that the 2024 election would be the first in which I would be eligible to vote. However, the weight of this decision only recently became clear to me as November 5th approached.

My parents and communities have always instilled in me the knowledge that the best way to be a good American is to contribute to society through civic and political involvement, and the epitome of that is voting. As a young child, when I saw the colorful red, white, and blue “I Voted” stickers that came with my parents’ ballots, I eagerly looked forward to earning one of my own.

I am inspired by people like Ida B. Wells and Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize and believe in the tremendous opportunity that voting provides for our hopeful republic.

In addition to home, my social studies classes have helped me learn more about the importance and privilege of voting.

One of the most influential ways I learned to see current events through the eyes of history last year was through my American Government course. My teacher explained the importance of voting from the perspective of those who have dedicated their lives to gaining the right to vote and tried to put us in their shoes.

He made it clear to us that the majority of us would not have been allowed to vote if we had lived before the Voting Rights Act of 1965. After giving us a moment to think, he asked us why any of us were unwilling to vote if we had that right.

Still, it’s hard not to feel like voting makes you feel like you have all the power in the world while simultaneously having none. Being just one person in a country of millions can be intimidating and make you question the importance of a single voice. In close elections, whether local or national, one vote can mean the difference between electing someone who is fit to serve the people and someone who is not.

I know that when I vote, I am making the decision to make my voice heard even if the outcome is not what I want, and that is what voting is all about.

I often oscillate between frustration and concern about how our current government is working and where it is going. However, there is always the possibility of a better world based on the foundations of democracy, of which voting is at its core. Voting is not only a means of hope, but also a tool to strengthen our society.

Of all the feelings I have when I vote for the first time, the feeling that I can make a difference in my country is the most prevalent. Above all, I want to embrace this feeling and celebrate freedom of choice to work with my fellow Americans on November 5th to create a better future.

I hope that every young adult who is eligible to vote will join me in voting and seizing the opportunity to help shape this country to uphold the values ​​we hold dear.

Ayah Al-Masyabi lives in Aurora and is a student journalist and creative attending Branson School Online. Ayah was part of the Colorado Sun’s “Rise & Shine Journalism Workshop” for high school students.

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Story Type: Opinion

Represents ideas and draws conclusions based on the writer/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.