My Voice!
The peoples’ voice builds democracy. The line that separates democracy and something like a dictatorship is not written on paper. It’s heard throughout the country. It’s given by the people. Representation in government is a massive part of why America has been so prosperous for 242 years. The people have gotten to choose who leads. The people have gotten to choose our laws. The people have made their voice heard. Now it’s my turn.
Over this past summer, (2018), I had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. with the Institute for Civility in Government along with nine other students from Matagorda and Wharton Counties. It was my first time on a plane and my first time in a couple years being out of the state. While the time I spent there was a wonderful and relaxing trip, it also served as a great learning experience.
While there, I toured the Senate building, the Capital Building, and even got to see the White House. I also got to personally meet Congressman Cloud and Senator Cruz. When I got the chance to talk to Congressman Cloud, I thought I’d just talk for a bit and then be pushed aside for the next matter of business. But he listened carefully to what I had to say and even gave some feedback on how he would try to get changes made. It made me feel a lot big ger. Although I wasn’t able to vote in his election, Congressman Cloud gave me a voice. Now that I’m back home, I don’t have a conversation line straight to Congressman Cloud, but I can still make my voice heard. I can go to a poll box and try to help lead this country where I believe it should go.
My vote is important because it helps give me a voice from my humble position. This year, in October, I turned eighteen years old. With the state senate election between Beto O’Rorke and Ted Cruz coming up, my government class has talked a lot about voting. To my surprise, many of my friends aren’t planning on voting. I was shocked that many of them just didn’t see the importance of it. They said one vote couldn’t make a difference. One vote didn’t matter. Especially not theirs. But my classmates and I are the future of this country. We need to make our voices heard so we can work towards building the America we want for the generations coming behind us, just like our elders did before us. The fact that a group of students from a small town in Matagorda County could have an impact on where this country goes baffles me. Everyone’s vote is so important. My vote has the potential to affect the layer I add onto America’s history. My voice matters and my voice should be heard. Voting is one of the best ways to ensure that gets done.
Growing up, I’ve always gotten jealous of my parents going to vote. It always seemed exciting to have a say in our country. I craved the feeling of contribution. What my parents were doing, what I wanted to do, was sculpting the future of the country. That’s why I believe my vote matters. It’s my duty to chisel away my part of the statue. And when everyone chisels away their portion, the masterpiece of America takes shape.
Written by SLS Alumni Garrison Kelley
*My name is Garrison Kelley, and I was lucky enough to be invited to the Student Legislative Semi nar Led by the Institute for Civility during my time in high school. I am 23 years old now and currently a student at Lamar University pursuing an English de gree in hopes of becoming a teacher. While an under standing of politics isn’t immediately useful in my fu ture line of work, the beneϐits of this trip are not lost on me. Of course, I appreciate my new knowledge of our political structure and how I as an American citi zen can affect our leadership, but I would be hesitant to say that was the most valuable lesson I learned. Something I still ϐind myself pursuing daily is civility. While on the trip, we students had to pres ent real arguments for real problems facing America. As expected, we did not all agree on every aspect of what we presented, but we were taught how to go about our ideas with open minds and great respect for our opposition. I am very thankful to the Trull Foundation for funding the trip, and I hope many more young minds are given the opportunity to learn as I did.