On November 5th, senior James Shidle voted in his first presidential election. Although his candidate lost, James knows his vote had an impact.
James was one of 8 million newly eligible voters. According to The Washington Post, “young voters could have a monumental impact on the 2024 presidential election, and research shows that what teens learn in class about voting plays a key role in determining if or how they show up to the polls.” Voting gives students like James a say in who is elected into the American government.
“When I was younger, I felt like there was nothing I could do about election results, but now that I can participate, it’s gratifying,” said James.
Along with James, five other Wilde Lake seniors voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election. Bereket Tewedoros was one of the seniors who voted for the first time, but he didn’t always think he’d vote.
According to Bereket, he did not plan on voting at first. “I believed that in a state that is predominantly democratic, my vote wouldn’t matter,” said Bereket. “My vote would not change the outcome of the entire state, let alone the nation.”
However, Bereket says Social Studies teacher Ms. Sue Pennington convinced him to use his right to vote.
“Ms. Pennington changed my outlook on voting,” said Bereket. “She changed me from somebody who believed voting doesn’t really matter because it’s not going to change anything to believing voting is going to make a difference. Your voice matters, and your vote counts.”
Ms. Pennington says she encourages students to vote because she believes voting is one of the fundamental rights of American citizens that allows each person to be heard.
“I encourage students to vote because it is literally the only way that you can affect any change,” said Ms. Pennington. “It is the only way in the United States of America that you have a say in who makes rules and who makes your laws. It’s so important that young people understand that everything affects them, and they need to have their voices heard.”
Despite Donald Trump having been inaugurated on January 20, 2025, senior Harper Benford believes that every vote was important because it gave people the chance to express their beliefs.
“Voting gives me a right to have an opinion, which I think is very important in the world today,” said Harper.
As Ms. Pennington says, “Your vote matters and your voice matters because quite frankly, if you are able to vote and you do not vote, you have given up your right to say anything.”
