As teenagers, it is important for us to know about current events just as much as adults do. Although most of the high school cannot vote, we can still research and ensure that we are politically aware as United States citizens.

So why should we care? Or rather, “why shouldn’t we care?” From car insurance to global affairs, and for some people, fundamental human rights, politics affects everything in our daily lives. Your whole life could be affected by one law.

Politics can change our lives by helping shape our perspectives. By keeping ourselves updated on world events, we can further establish individual interpretations about issues in today’s society. No matter your political standpoint, it is crucial to formulate beliefs. When you are eligible to vote, you should know the policies and views of the candidate you are voting for. Knowing our values, we as a society can determine what we think is right and wrong.

To further emphasize why political awareness is significant, students are eligible to vote once they turn eighteen.  As high school students approach voting age, we need to be informed about the world. We should read about the various politicians running for government positions. You do not want to realize that you voted for the wrong candidate because you did not research important information about them beforehand.

So how can students become politically aware? Today it is simple. With diverse platforms, one can read online news sources as well as watch the news on TV. I recommend reading different sources to ensure each resource is unbiased. You can also watch political debates. To determine the candidate you would want to vote for, you could do research to truly understand their viewpoints regarding different policies. We are the future of society and should make an effort to stay involved in the world. Researching current events allows us to further advance our knowledge of the world that awaits us.