Politically Aware Teenagers: How you Can Make an Impact | Makayla Gubbay

Politically Aware Teenagers: How you Can Make an Impact

by: Makayla Gubbay

With all the drama this year has brought so far, at least one positive thing has come from it; teenagers are becoming more politically aware. However, since high school students can’t run for local offices, vote, or hold positions in government, it’s easy to feel voiceless and powerless. What most teenagers don’t realize is that it’s never too early to start making a difference in people’s lives and an impact on the world. Below are just six options you have to become politically active in a big way.

Apply to Become a U.S. Senate Page

If you’re a high school junior that’s at least 16 years old, becoming a Senate page could be the opportunity of a lifetime. For one academic semester or summer, Senate pages get to serve in the Congressional complex and meet the leaders of our country. Pages also receive education at the United States Senate Page School.

Their duties consist primarily of delivering correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional complex, as well as preparing the chamber for Senate sessions, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk.

In order to become a U.S. Senate page, you must be appointed and sponsored by Senators. You can do this by contacting your Senators and requesting consideration for a page position. There is a lot of criteria for pages, academic standing being one of the most important. For more information on Senate pages, click here.

Apply for a Government Internship

If becoming a page isn’t what you’re looking for, becoming an intern could be the perfect fit. Though internships are often for college-age individuals, some senators offer internships to high school students. To learn more about these opportunities, visit your local senator’s website.

Become a Journalist

With false information becoming dangerously widespread, journalists are more important than ever. Writing is also an amazing way to share your views with the world and change the way others think.

A common misconception about journalism is you have to be an adult to become one. However, that is completely untrue. Anyone can be a freelance journalist, all you have to do is call yourself one!

To get started, you can email your local newspaper and see if they’d be interested in publishing an article you wrote, or, you can submit your article to online magazines. Many online magazines have a place on their website where you can pitch your work. If the magazine of your choice doesn’t have this, you can also email a pitch to an editor.

To become a part of the Revolution Now team, you can visit our “Getting Involved” page to apply for a position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Write a Blog

Don’t think journalism is your style? Starting a blog is another way for people to read your work. With blogs, you can post whenever you want about whatever you want, and still reach an audience. You can start a blog today for free on websites like Wix and Blogger.

Get Involved on Social Media

Social media is a great way to create a political presence. Some Twitter and Instagram political pages have hundreds of thousands of followers! These sites also allow users to share and comment on news that inspired (or enraged) them within seconds.

It has become clearer and clearer that social media is no longer limited to cute selfies and latte art. Businesses are rapidly working to increase their media presence, and maintaining a company or organization’s Instagram or Snapchat could become a job in the near future.

Plan a Protest

Planning a protest is a great way to raise awareness for an issue. There are teams that set up protests already that you can join, or you can create one yourself! While creating a protest does take a lot of collaboration, starting a school club dedicated to planning these events is a good first step. If you need a little guidance, asking protest planners in your area for advice and information will help immensely. Also make sure to use social media as a vessel for spreading information on the details of the protest.

Whether it’s working with Congress, or sharing opinions through writing, it is important to start now. With enough determination, our voices will be heard and the teenagers of America can make the change we are dying to see. If teenagers are the future, then the future is now.