The presidential election is just around the corner, and the media blitz following candidates is in full swing. While the majority of students can’t vote yet, there are still many ways for students to get politically involved and support candidates and issues they care about.
Junior Will Stover, an intern for Mayor Greer Stone and California State Senator Josh Becker, said his advocacy work involves interacting directly with local politicians.
“I sent out an email to every single city council member on the city council,” Stover said. “He was vice mayor at the time, and he was the only one that actually replied to me and gave me the opportunity to intern with him.”
Since then, Stover has worked on a project with Stone to help immigrant communities receive equal access to community information. Now, with the help of Becker, he’s focused his attention on a plan to install electric vehicle charging stations across California to make using EVs more convenient and help slow climate change.
“What I’m doing with the senator is championing a first-in-the-country hybrid EV gas station model,” Stover said. “We’re implementing fast EV chargers in gas stations with the help of solar on the gas roofs to replicate a gas station experience for EV charging.”
Junior Bela Meyers said she has had a similar experience working with a representative from House Representative Anna Eshoo’s office in support of a bill addressing climate change and economic injustice.
“It’s good for us to learn that we can always advocate for ourselves and make a difference,” Meyers said. “Often, adults are likely to think twice when they hear powerful stories from our perspectives (as teens) rather than from other adults.”
Stover also said his political work has revolved around helping youth have a voice in politics.
“My work with the mayor is really focusing on youth engagement and breaking down the myth that youth cannot be involved in politics and activism,” Stover said. “What I’m doing is saying, ‘Hey, the youth have a voice and say in politics. We’re not as secluded and unheard of as you think we are.’”
Palo Alto Unified School District school board trustee Jennifer DiBrienza stories like Stover’s and Meyers’ are becoming more common.
“Your generation does care a lot,” DiBrienza said. “Young people are active members of the community — they are out there protesting against gun violence, for climate (change), for electric buses, against racism. We’ve had kids come to us for all sorts of different things. The future affects you, and that’s why you should care.”
Stover agrees and said it’s important for students to start getting involved, even if it seems hard.
“We have the opportunities to be heard, but we don’t always take them,” Stover said. “I think that we have to really step out of our comfort zone. Regardless of the voting age, it’s our job as people and citizens of the United States to be informed about these topics.”
Even without the ability to vote, U.S. Government teacher Adam Yonkers said high school students can still participate in a democracy in meaningful ways.
“Campaigns really, really want volunteers, so that’s a great way to carve out some time on the weekends,” Yonkers said. “Show up to an office. Work the phone banks. Canvass, attend meetings, attend protests, write letters. There are tons of ways to get involved.”
DiBrienza said youth can learn a lot from participating in a democracy such as getting familiar with issues and candidates.
“If there’s a candidate that really inspires you, you can get involved by working with them,” DiBrienza said. “You can go to marches and really educate yourself. Democracy doesn’t work if the citizens aren’t educated.”
Yonkers said that youth engagement in the issues they care about is crucial for the health and future of democracy.
“You’re going to inherit this country. You’re going to be voting, and there’s a lot of power and responsibility in that,” Yonkers said. “It’s the voter’s job to vote and be informed and engaged. It’s their job to not just consider it to be a hassle or a nuisance but really embrace the fact that people have died for and gotten beaten up and sent to jail for wanting their rights.”
