In this increasingly divisive and intimidating political climate, where it seems we argue with each other more than we commit to real change, it is easy to shy away from the difficult issues that concern us. However, for that same reason, it is extremely important for students to get involved in politics, especially local politics, to break through that veil of confusion and try to initiate real change in our ever-evolving society.

It’s important to remember that our voices matter and deserve to be heard. Although right now many of us are below voting age, it won’t be long until our generation is the backbone of our community and nation’s politics. Introducing ourselves early to the complex issues that are important in our everyday lives will help us gain new information and perspectives that will better prepare us for the future. In this way, we can become active, participating members of society at a younger age, helping to implement the change that we want to see in the world.

From an educational perspective, learning about local politics can help us learn new strategies that we can add to our academic repertoire. Educating ourselves about local candidates and their campaigns helps add to the research skills that we use for writing essays in some of our classes. In addition, building our knowledge about politics helps create better critical thinking abilities. Taking on these tough political topics makes us better learners and harder workers.

There are many ways for us to start participating in local politics, even at our age. One of the best ways to inform ourselves about the current events that our representatives are working on is by attending school board and city council meetings. Students can see what our elected representatives’ plans are and how they plan to carry them out. Students can even contribute to the conversation as these meetings often have time reserved for questions from community members.

However, as essential as it is for students to educate themselves, it is even more important for them to do so correctly. In this social media-driven age, it is very easy to be exposed to misinformation. It is imperative that one makes sure that wherever they are getting their information from is a reputable source. Also, we must be aware of opinions and biases versus facts. Students have to commit themselves to the possibility of spending a lot of time and effort finding reputable sources, exposing themselves to multiple perspectives and teaching themselves the facts about issues that matter. In doing so, not only are they helping themselves, but they are helping contribute to society in a positive way.