As election day approaches, millions of high school students across the nation are becoming eligible to vote for the presidential candidate of their choosing.
Among these millions of students, two from Olympia will soon cast their votes for the first time, each voter sharing their perspective on the current election. For many young voters, this is an important opportunity to make their first impactful contribution to the US political system and stand for the values that are important to them. Making this a very crucial point in their lives.
To consider the privacy of the people interviewed, their names will remain anonymous.
One senior at Olympia High School said that they are a strong-leaning Democrat and will be voting for Kamala Harris this election. “I believe Kamala Harris will do a better job of supporting all communities than Trump.” The student explained, emphasizing the importance of inclusive leadership.
In contrast, a senior from Capital High School stated that they would be voting for Donald Trump. “Trump will surely be better for the economy, he has proven he can be a great president and a strong leader in general.” This student feels that Trump’s policies will affect them more positively than Harris’ will, they also believe that his strong leadership qualities will strengthen the economy and the nation.
For many students, their first vote in a presidential election is a moment to stand up for the issues they feel most passionate about. Whether it’s the economy, climate change, education, or healthcare new voters are getting involved at a critical time in shaping US history.
“A good candidate must be ready to rise and conquer any challenge.” The OHS senior explained, “To add on to that, they also must be able to debate and persuade others even under pressure.” These qualities are very important to this student, which is why they have chosen to vote for Harris rather than Trump.
“I look for a man who can lead our country to be great, that’s exactly what comes to mind when I see Trump,” the CHS student stated. “Trump makes sure to protect our second amendment rights which I believe is very important.” This student says that they value Trump’s leadership qualities as well as his plan to protect the Second Amendment.
These two students’ voices show the difference in the district’s beliefs, highlighting how this new generation will vote and why they make their decisions
