In a little more than a year from now, the class of 2020 will embark on their first time voting: the 2020 election. From a generation that is known for their passion pertaining to pertinent social issues, the chance to voice these beliefs in the polls will allow for a new source of advocation. A dramatic election is due in 2020, as the current controversial president, Donald Trump, is running for his second term in office. The class of 2020 can be classified as Generation Z, which is believed to be the most radicalized since the 1960s (Forbes). Throughout the past few years, the news has been flooded with stories of protest and advocation, from none other than yours truly: Gen Z.

Aspen High School’s graduating class of 2020, which includes me, will be the youngest age group that is eligible to vote in the 2020 election. Gen Z’ers are known for their search for truth. Valuing free expression and the destruction of labels in society, this generation is passionate about social issues and asserting their opinions. According to Forbes.com, Generation Z’ers are born from loosely 1995-2010. In the 2020 election, one in every 10 eligible voters will be a from Gen Z (Business Insider). There are few members of the class of 2021 who will also be able to vote in the coming election.

In 2017, I attended the Million Women’ March on Denver alongside my sister and our friends. We, along with millions of women nation and even worldwide, marched following the election in which Donald Trump took office. Posters filled the sky with words demanding change, shining a light on unheard voices. Many of those that marched beside me were similar in age to me. They too felt passionate that their rights were at stake as women. In the year following, I stood in Park City Utah braving the cold as part of the Resistance Rally, marking the one-year anniversary of the Millions Women’s March. Once again, it was my generation that filled the rally, making a stand as the policies made in the White House that were affecting their lives and the lives of those around them. Next year, we can do more than simply rally and march. We can take on the polls.

Following inspirations such as Greta Thunberg and David Hogg, my generation has been advocating for social issues even before having the ability to vote. For example, the nationwide March for Our Lives protest was fully student-led. For years, we have been begging the adults in our lives to vote for our interests, whether it be climate change, women’s rights, gun rights or more, yet soon we will have the power. It will be interesting to see how this generation of activists will utilize their ability to vote following their passionate protests over the past years.

The young people in my generation will soon be given the privilege to make their voices heard in the polls. Although the graduating class of 2020 will be the last age group to take the polls in November of 2020, they have equal power in the deciding of the next leader in our country. I have trust in my generation to make that decision.