With Mitt Romney’s win in the Iowa caucus by a mere eight votes, it’s hard not to get excited about the upcoming election season, right? Wrong. The start of primaries has not riled up AHS students, only serving to illustrate why the political spectrum is not a topic of discussion while other subjects like Katy Perry’s divorce and Jersey Shore have their full attention.
“Kids aren’t as focused about the elections because they don’t have a motive, like say because they aren’t old enough to vote yet and a majority of high school students aren’t anyways. I personally don’t understand much of politics and to add to that I’m never caught up with the latest election news to know enough about it to care” junior Rebecca Nguyen said.
The idea that students are not old enough to vote builds on the idea of ignorance and creates a stereotype concerning teenagers and their lack of interest.
Lack of interest has also been tied in with the rigorous work of high school and not being able to keep up with current events.
“I have not been keeping up to date with candidates and upcoming elections like I have in the past. I actually will be voting in the next presidential election,” junior Mairead Kennedy said. ”School has really been my life and I do wish I could pay more attention to politics.”
Another factor that has affected students is the influence that their parents have on their lives, not to mention the trends of today that have students focused on other lifestyles and ideas.
“Kids are just being kids. They don’t care. They really don’t know much about elections, and if they do, I guess they just follow the opinion of their parents. They are more worried about the new season of Jersey Shore than listening to a candidate talking about things that teens don’t even know about,” senior Jimena Encinas said.
On the other hand, many students have taken up the responsibility of being informed and have found ways to be in the know by forming their own opinions and getting to know the election candidates.
“I think that the Republican Party is a disaster at present. While I agree that there needs to be a change in command either in the effectiveness of Obama’s policies or the party in charge, I do not think that any of the current candidates would be any better for the country,” junior Jenny Jessen said.
Other students are taking action because they are aware that they will soon be able to vote and make their own decisions concerning who would be the best fit for president.
“Elections are important to me now because I will be 18 very soon, so I hope that some Republican wins and can try a new approach to the country’s problems. I only say this because there are no good Democratic candidates except Obama and I can’t exactly say he’s been doing very well,” senior Josh Quezada said.
