Although I like to believe that I am very involved in politics, I had never participated in an actual political protest. Given the fact that I identify as a feminist and that it seemed that virtually all of the women across the nation were going to participate in the Women’s March on Washington, I knew that I wanted to be part of it. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the Women’s March on Washington on January 21, 2017. However, I was able to participate in the Columbus Women’s March which was organized by the Women’s March on Washington, and was held on January 15, 2017, one week before the Women’s March on Washington.
We marched from the Scioto River to the Statehouse, where we waited until everyone who was participating in the march, were in the front yard of the Statehouse. As we marched, I felt very invigorated and empowered. Up until this point in my life, I had always known that fighting for what you believed in was important however, I never truly understood the extent to which it is important. It was only after participating in this demonstration did I realize that getting your voice out there and fighting for your beliefs through events such as protests, can make a difference. Since I marched in the front of the protest, I did not realize how many people were participating in the march until everyone had gathered in front of the State house. Many sources estimated that more than 3,000 people participated in the Columbus march. I later learned that many of the people who participated, were from all over Ohio. This demonstrated to me how impactful this cause is and how many people are as passionate about it as I am.  Looking to the future, I intend to continue to participate in protests that focus on my beliefs and hope to increase my involvement in social and political reform.

        Throughout my life, I could not wait to be 18 and earn the right to vote. During every election, my parents would take me to the voting polls to witness them carry out their constitutional right. When President Obama was a presidential candidate in 2008, I vividly remember voting in my school’s mock election and the feeling I received after I had “cast my ballot”. Similarly, I remember voting in my high school’s mock presidential election in 2012. I could not wait to be able to participate in an election. Therefore I was overjoyed when I realized that my birthday fell during the a general election year.

As the 2016 Presidential Election got closer and increasingly more relevant, I became more involved in politics. Over the past year I have been able to attend multiple political rallies and volunteer for the Republican National Convention to witness the political world in process. At Ohio State University, I had the opportunity to attend a Hillary Clinton rally only a few weeks prior to election day. Standing in the South Oval, and listening to the first female presidential candidate I truly realized the impact of my vote and how privileged I am as an American to cast my ballot. When November 8 finally came, I proudly casted my vote for the next president of the United States. I will forever remember the day that I first expressed my constitutional right for the first time on November 8.

Picture of my first I voted sticker
that I received after I voted at the
Ohio State Union on
November 8, 2016.

Days before I moved into my dorm at Ohio State, I attended my second Hillary Clinton rally and was able to get a picture with the first female presidential candidate.