Exercising that Right!

I know that I already mentioned that I early voted and showed this picture, but I'm feeling like I want to devote a whole post to it...just so that I can remember how excited I am to vote!

I remember watching my parents vote when I was little, and I saw all of the voters that turned out at my elementary school since it was a polling spot! It was awesome to see the power of voting at a young age and to know that it was something I wanted to do when I was old enough!

As I got older, I learned about the struggle for the right to vote for so many marginalized groups of people. As a woman, I feel like I would be letting down all of those amazing women who fought to earn me this right to vote. I feel so proud to exercise this right!

I am proud that my first election back in 2008 was also the same election where our first Black president was elected because how cool will that be to tell my children when they learn about that in their history classes! And, I can't believe that I just voted in my 2nd election! 

As a teacher, I feel like there is so much I need to model for my students. We have had some wonderful conversations about the election and voting! It was so exciting to hear all of the parents mention how "into" the election their child was after all of our talks at school! I love that I'm doing my part to encourage these kiddos to grow up to be good citizens in this way!

I feel lucky to live in a country where we're allowed to have different opinions. I love that all of my best friends from high school and one of my best friends from college have different political views than me and that we can have educated conversations about our differing opinions and still love each other! I also love that most of my family, teacher friends and one of my other best friends from college have the same views as me and that we can talk so passionately about what we commonly believe. 

I can't say that everything about this election has been awesome. I certainly have my beef with many of the comments on facebook that alienate or bash people with different beliefs. 

But, mostly, I just feel proud and lucky to have voted!

Happy Election Day, everyone!