The year is 2024. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and… full-blown adults are having meltdowns on the internet?! What-?

That’s right! It’s yet another election year, and it seems that this time Donald Trump won his spot back in the Oval Office. Although the majority of the student body wasn’t able to vote in this election cycle (considering that most of us are under the age of 18) that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep informed about the events that led us to Trump’s second term.

First of all, this election has had enough twists and turns to make a mountain road blush. If you recall, back when this election cycle started, it was Trump v. Biden! I know, I forgot, too. Back when that was the focus of the election, the most major political thing that occurred was the presidential debate on June 27 which…certainly went. Critics from both sides of the political spectrum agreed that, although Trump didn’t ‘win’, Biden certainly ‘lost.’ Online, the debate was the subject of many jokes, especially a segment in which they paused the debate to argue about golf scores and handicaps. 

The next era of this phase, however, wasn’t nearly as lighthearted. On July 13th, one of Trump’s rallies ended in bloodshed after 20-year-old Thomas Crooks tried to assassinate the then-former president. Fortunately, he failed in his goal and only grazed Trump’s ear, but tragically, one of his bullets ended up killing Corey Comperatore who died shielding his family from the bullets. This was a highly contentious moment for both Democrats and Republicans, because although for most Republicans it only served to bolster their resolve, and for most Democrats it garnered their sympathy, some extreme radicals turned Crooks into a martyr-like figure which…shouldn’t be regarded as ok. It was this mentality that led to a second assassination attempt soon after.

This is when the tide shifted for good because a mere eight days later, Biden dropped out of the race. There has been much speculation as to why, some people thinking it was due to medical reasons, some people thinking it was because of that first assassination attempt, some people even thinking it was a coup enacted by members of the Democratic Party- but all of those are just theories. Biden never really gave a concrete reason other than he thought that it was what was best for the nation. But, whatever the reason may be, the Democratic Party chose Kamala Harris as the next person up (after she was endorsed by Biden) leading to the events of last week. 

So, after hours of everyone gritting their teeth and gnawing their fingernails off, Trump ended up winning this election. So, what does this mean for us as students? Is it a good thing? A bad thing? Well, It really depends on who you ask. This was a highly contentious election. Why? Well, this year especially, the candidates exemplified near complete opposition as it comes to both moral and political stances so, naturally, the outcry when one wins will be louder than if they had similar beliefs. 

For example, one student, who will be kept anonymous, states, “I really thought Kamala Harris was going to win. I went to sleep and when I woke up I was like, oh, ok. I didn’t think that was an option.” And further added, “I mean, it’s probably just Echo Chamber-y, you know? You like one post where someone says ‘I Love Kamala Harris’ and so Tik Tok just gives you a bunch more like it, so you think oh! A lot of people feel that way. But, yeah, I guess not.” 

On the other side of the spectrum, another student- who will also be kept anonymous- states, “…I’ve been rooting for Trump since 2016 when he ran the first time, then in 2020 we got ‘Sleepy Joe’ and Kamala Harris didn’t help fix anything…personally, I think that Trump’s just gonna make the economy better.”

You might be asking why this all matters which…is valid. On the surface level, it seems like- in the grand scheme of things- one vote and one president doesn’t matter all that much. But it does! When you vote, you force the Electoral college’s hand as it comes to what candidate they all have to represent. 48/50 US states go with a “winner takes all” system, including us here in Georgia. Therefore the louder and prouder you show up for your pick, the more likely it will be that they reach that coveted 270 majority. As for the other, the President here in the US serves as both Head of Government and Head of State, which means they represent America both diplomatically and executively. So, this is a position that obviously holds a lot of power, which is why there are so many checks and balances to keep it out of truly corrupt hands. 

So, in conclusion, no matter how we got here and no matter how you currently feel (mad, sad, happy, glad, etc.), the most important thing for us to know as students is that soon we will be the ones determining the decisions of our nation, so it is truly imperative that we keep ourselves informed and vote. Even if you personally aren’t jazzed about one candidate over the other, it’s still important to vote for the person who leans the closest towards your personal beliefs, otherwise issues you care about may be swept under the rug in the vast network of needs that make up the United States of America. Therefore, when able, vote! It truly is a simple process that will keep your opinions in your country relevant and accounted for. So, as we watch these next four years play out, just remember that somewhere beside you are like-minded people who will be with you when the next presidential election comes, so let that strengthen you in 2028 when you go to the polls!