Finding Your Political Affiliation and Voice in College

By Sydney Grant | University of Michigan

Last Updated: July 30, 2019

As I moved on to college and became more invested in the news and current events, I became more involved in politics and determining what mattered to me. I started to do more research into politics, stay up to date with the news, and figure out what I was passionate about. I began to lean towards the social work profession. This essentially forced me from dipping my toes into politics and advocacy to jumping headfirst into grassroots movements and radical change. You don’t have to jump in quite as forcefully, but finding your political affiliation, and your political voice, can be an energizing and motivating experience.

Find your passions

What grinds your gears? What do you feel is most important to change? Gun reform, climate change, education equality, women’s rights, fair housing laws, etc. There are a billion and one topics that politicians, lobbyists, and advocates are fighting to work on every day. Search organizations, politicians, and think tanks that are working around those issues.

Choose your battle

Are you going to attend rallies and protests? If you have time and financial flexibility to travel to your state’s capital or to Washington DC to lobby with other activists, you can make a huge difference. You can make a big change simply by writing to your representatives and donating money or volunteer hours to agencies/organizations that are doing this work on the front lines.

Make a commitment

Whether it’s with actions, financial donations, or simply voting. Share what’s important to you with your friends and families, and exercise your right to vote. 2020 is just around the corner, but there is a lot of work to be done before then. Be passionate and involved. Spread the messages and ways to get involved in politics and in social change.

Famous human rights advocate Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in the face of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Take a stand and be a change agent in your community, in our country, and in the world.