As a voting member in my debate circuit, I find engaging in politics difficult. I learned the hard way when to speak up for what I believed, when to stay out of disputes, and how much political sway I had at any moment. Being involved in this tiny form of politics is exhilarating—I remember audibly sighing when a policy I supported passed 31-30, and the adrenaline of staying up convincing others to sign onto an important petition. Though the procedures and murky affiliations of my debate circuit can’t reflect international, national, or local politics, being involved in the weeds of change-making through student activism has allowed me to gain a deeper insight into understanding the complexity behind any kind of political change. I’d encourage other high school students in the Bay Area to take a look at the tiny forms of politics that surround them and to get themselves involved.
