College Freshmen Get Their Voices Heard
By: Gabriella Gamba, Francesca Vasta and Andrea Suarez-Navarro
For freshmen in college, today’s election was the first chance they’ve gotten to make a difference in the outcome of our country’s political future. Throughout this election’s campaign process, American citizens have been divided on whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would be best fit to run our country. For many freshmen, voting in this election signifies some of their initial steps into adulthood. While some believe their vote can make a difference, others have resorted to not voting at all.
Much like America’s distinct division between the two candidates, local freshmen are torn between voting in and of itself.
Nichole Vitulli, an 18-year-old student, sent her absentee ballot in just last week. She has followed this election thoroughly, noting that her father is a big influence on her political stance.
“My dad has been telling me a lot about the election, and I don’t have a TV [at school], so we call each other every night,” Vitulli says. “Especially since the debates, we’ve been reviewing them after we watch and deciding what we think about the issues.”
Vitulli, who comes from a prominently Republican family, mentions the responsibility she feels as a newly-18-year-old-voter. She says, “If I had to choose personally, I wouldn’t choose either of [the candidates], but obviously since I’m Republican I want Trump.”
She continues, “It’s interesting how my voice matters now that I’m 18. It’s a big responsibility that I can actually influence society.”
Contrary to Vitulli’s beliefs, Francesca Guzzo, another college freshman, believes that her voice is not as powerful. “It’s more of an issue with the way the voting is in the United States,” she begins, “especially because we live in New York, which is predominantly a blue state. No matter who we voted for, we’re gonna be seen as democratic either way.”
She briefly followed the election, but realized after the first debate that neither candidate was someone she would want to run the country. She compared the debate to that of a reality television show and doesn’t believe that her one vote could make a real impact on the outcome of the election.
Unlike these newly-18-year-old-voters, college student Amanda Guy, is a one of the few freshmen that have yet to become of age to vote. Actively following the heated election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, she mentioned how not being able to vote made her upset. “Although I am not 18 years old, I feel like I am old enough to formulate my own educated and valid opinion” adding that because every vote counts, “not being able to vote hinders [her] opinion from being heard.”
Despite these students being so young, they have managed to generate a strong perspective throughout this presidential election. Firmly dividing the nation these past few months, now that the election is over, these students, like the rest of the nation, will come together as one. The country must face these pending issues as one.
