The past few years have been a tumultuous time for politics in the United States, but are Wilsonville High School students actually paying attention to it? 

Youth are a key part in politics, and the vote of young adults matters. For many teens, staying informed and involved is important, but for others, voting seems too far away to be concerned. 

Regan Loonstyn, junior at Wilsonville High School, is one of many teens who are not involved with politics. She says that if she does get information on political issues, it usually comes from social media, or a conversation at home. 

Another junior, Ella Hubka, says she is grateful to be young and have more time to form her own opinions on politics. She added, “If I see a topic on social media that I am interested in, I will research more about it, and form my own opinions on it.”

 While social media is a great way to learn about current events, doing your own research and avoiding biases is helpful to make your own decisions. 

Alum, Meghan Barry (‘20), shared some insights about being active in politics while being a student. 

Barry said that she tried to be active in politics while in high school even though she couldn’t vote, “I tried to be politically active in anticipation of being able to vote.” She stayed informed by listening to news and having conversations, even if they might’ve been hard. 

She also gave advice to current students and said that staying engaged is important. She added, “Even just glancing at headlines can be informative.” Meghan Barry also recommended that students register to vote. This can be done prior to turning eighteen. 

Many factors can influence the opinions of young people, including parents, teachers, friends, and hobbies. Meghan Barry said, “I think it is really important to come to your own opinions.” “I do think that many young people are influenced by their parents,” she added, “I was lucky to have parents who encouraged me to be active by myself.”

An article by the LA Times High School Insider, gave various ways for teens to be involved rather than politics being a “grown-up” topic. 

In Five ways you can get involved in politics, the LA Times said that having conversations with friends and family is important. By having those conversations, you can hear various perspectives, while spreading your own knowledge. 

While many students at Wilsonville High School are not currently involved in politics, there are many ways to start without rushing your youth.