The 2024 election results caused ripples in history that will be remembered for years to come. Throughout the election and in the early hours of Nov 6, many Jupiter High students were vocal about their political beliefs.
Students utilized a variety of ways to express their opinions on the election such as word of mouth and social media.
“I’ve seen students posting things and hating on people who are supporting the opposite side. They’re very politically involved and I think it’s a little too much,” Bianca Briscan, junior, said.
Since the majority of high school students cannot vote, throughout November and October, student behaviors relating to the election were excessive.
“I know people who have come up to me being like, ‘Oh just because this person posted this or that on their Instagram story, I’m not friends with them anymore’,” Eliana Cohn, 18-year-old senior voter, said.
Cutting off ties with someone solely based on their political opinion is unnecessary. Similarly, during the course of the election, many of these attitudes and student opinions were only voiced through social media.
“I feel like mostly I see people hiding behind their screens. They’re less afraid to share their opinions,” Maggie Harper, 10th grader, said.
That is a very immature way to go about voicing opinions. To start fights online or post hateful and degrading content and then act like nothing was said, is the easy way out. If someone wants to be loud about their beliefs, there are better ways to do it than just Instagram posts.
Of course it’s important for people to express their beliefs and defend their standpoint. However, there is a time and place, and there’s a way to do it respectfully. This can also start fights between friends.
“I’ve seen people have their relationships ruined because one person is an extreme leftist and the other is an extreme right,” Harper said.
Many high schoolers witnessed friendships going through fights due a difference in political opinion.
“[The election] can definitely put a strain on people’s friendships, especially if they get into politics and have opposite viewpoints,” Briscan said.
To avoid that outcome, there are a multitude of ways to either fairly debate the topic or try to avoid it completely.
“We should be entitled to our own opinions, but we shouldn’t be attacking people in their own right,” Lilyan Thomas, freshman, said.
Most of the time it is just unnecessary to put so much time and energy into political issues when most teens cannot vote in the first place.
“If you can’t vote, you don’t have a voice. As hard as it is, you’re not represented in democracy,” Cohn said. “I really shouldn’t be put down for my opinion if I actually do have a voice.”
Many debate if high schoolers or teenagers in general are too young to be worrying about things such as the election. Especially considering that learning and becoming passionate about politics adds an extra layer to the already stressful lives of high schoolers. With things such as AP classes, exams, extracurriculars, etc.
“I feel like high schoolers are still kids and they don’t have that level of emotional maturity to talk about politics civilly,” Harper said.
While it’s important for young people to educate themselves, not everything in politics applies to them. So much heavy information about politics can greatly overwhelm a teenager and just isn’t necessary.
“Even though we should know what’s going on in our economy and our country, we don’t really have the right to vote yet,” Thomas said.
Many high schoolers across all grades expressed that a good age to start getting politically involved is around 16 or 17 years old. Since, at those ages, students are starting college applications, getting jobs and nearing the right to vote. They should know what and who they are voting for.
“I knew who I was going to vote for going into the election, but for all the amendments, I did my own research,” Cohn said.
It’s important for voters to educate themselves on the candidates and amendments, so they can then vote for people and things that will represent their priorities and ideals.
“I voted because I think it’s a civil duty to vote. I voted based on character and morals, as I think everyone should,” Phoenix Gulick, who recently voted in the presidential election, said.
Opposite to many students at JHS, some of the student body has voiced about the significance of expressing themselves and being vocal about their opinions.
“It’s your own opinion, You should be allowed to voice it. Two of my friends were having a conversation about the election. I had different political views to them, and I was trying to voice my concern the best way I could but got attacked for it,” Thomas said.
The importance of respecting others’ views, no matter the topic, should be a given. As long as it’s communicated in a respectful way, students shouldn’t be scared to be a part of the conversation and weigh their own opinion in. That kind of debate should in fact be encouraged to an extent.
Some high schoolers also witnessed arguments communicated by people who haven’t actually researched or learned what they’re talking about.
“Once complications show up [in their argument], they just shy away and they blank. People are just spitting out their opinions without actually thinking about it,” Briscan said.
When talking without being able to elaborate or provide actual proof behind their words, this reflects back to the lack of maturity that high schoolers need for politics. Numerous of these opinions, especially from younger teens, stem from their parent’s perspective.
“Some people can really care about [the election] and others aren’t that invested in it and just believe what their parents say,” Elin Sawyer, freshman, said.
While it’s good to learn from your parents, and get an idea from them, ultimately, teenagers should be figuring out their own opinions so they can vote for who they stand for, not who their parents or peers stand for.
Different students expressed how they thought the election results would affect high schoolers. Despite most of them not having a vote, the election still affects teenagers in some way.
“They’re letting these very minute details, these percentages and numbers control their lives for like all of November,” Gulick said.
While there is no real way to avoid politics in people’s lives, it’s important to set that boundary and figure out how much is too much for you.
“A good reminder for those that are still not of age to vote is that you don’t really have a lot of control over the situation, so don’t let the situation control you,” Gulick said.
