As 2016 continues and the U.S. presidential primary elections remain underway as the country prepares to usher in a new President and Vice President come November, it is safe to say that politics have become entangled with the lives of the American people in one form or another. Not only that, the increasing popularity in being conscious (see: “wokeness”) about systemic issues and the various ways that they have impacted groups of people in the U.S. has allowed for more political engagement and awareness.
Regardless of whatever level of knowledge you have when it comes to politics – be it history or how they manifest in present time – it is incredibly important to try to remain engaged with politics. For far too long, the youth or millennials have been deemed “passive” or have been thought to not care about anything more than the latest trends and social media. However, 2014 and onward has signified a huge shift in that mode of thought and it seems that, now more than ever, millennials will be known as more than just Generation iPhone.
If you have been looking to increase your knowledge about the matters currently affecting society, it may seem incredibly overwhelming and daunting at first. It seems like everyone knows more than you do, and you may feel reluctant to engage in certain kinds of conversation because you are not very knowledgeable on the topics. However, it is very important to remember that even the most knowledgeable were in your shoes and did not know very much before – the first step, as cliche as it may sound – is to admit that you may not be particularly familiar with a subject and what you do afterwards can make or break you.
Read! Hit up your local and school libraries to stock up on books. To ensure that you are gaining as much knowledge as possible, try to pick from a diverse range of authors and topics. You can never know too much and you will surprise yourself with the new things that you discover! Also, scour through news outlets and read up on articles and think pieces.
Research! Google has been your best friend for papers and assignments – let it work its magic as you seek out new information and ideas to make you a more informed person. There are various websites that exist that can provide the basics and breakdowns for a number of issues. You just need to find them!
Run to social media! As millennials, everyone knows how much we love our social media! Not only can we keep up with our friends, the Kardashians, and the latest makeup and fashion trends, but plenty of users have turned to social media – especially websites like Twitter and Tumblr – as a means of education. Note that it should not be the only way that you learn about important issues, but social media provides great interactive ways to do so!
With the advancement of technology and information systems, we now have more forms of knowledge and ways to access them more than ever. Make sure to take advantage of them and be willing to challenge your way of thinking – you never know what you may learn!