This blog post was written by Tatum Thompson, a sophomore at Taft High School.
My Political Action Club teacher, on our first meeting, introduced Mikva Challenge to us. She told a small group of students, ranging from sophomores to seniors about the opportunity to for campaigning in Champaign, IL. Right off the bat, I was elated. I couldn’t wait to get out and get my first taste of the whole political process and it was exactly how I imagined it to be.
Door knocking for two and a half hours with people I had just recently met was exhilarating. Talking to people and hearing their perspectives was amazing. Not only did many of the students and I bond over political backgrounds, but we also connected through being of the same age, and all of us being here for the same purpose. Meeting youth who were as interested in the political system as I am was very refreshing, and made the whole thing not even feel like I was with over thirty other strangers.
Before we even went door knocking, we shared stories with each other, through one another’s perspectives. Having strangers opening up so quickly held create a stronger sense of trust for the people we would be spending the next few days with. Among all of the political activities we engaged in, we were fortunate enough to have some time to do things we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to in Chicago, such as touring the University of Illinois Campus. Thanks to that experience, and the opportunity to converse with current college students at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, that college has now my first choice for school.
This trip was life changing, and it really helped confirm that my role in politics will only hopefully grow. I’m very grateful for all the Mikva staff, as well as the organization in a whole, for giving me this experience.