We are officially one week out from the 2024 presidential election – which could be the most important one of our lifetime – and things couldn’t be more uncertain. The polls are close, public sentiment is divided, and the line between hope and despair is growing all the more blurred.
In the midst of all the chaos election season brings, students still have to contend with classes, quizzes and the regular stresses of college life. For many, this is an overwhelming time.
So, let’s do a check-in with NIU students to see how they’re feeling ahead of such a monumental presidential election. And remember to get out there and vote!
Anahied Rayzian, a junior public health major, is exhausted by the election cycle.
Q: “How are you feeling about the upcoming presidential election in three words or less?”
A: “I am tired.”
Q: “Why are you feeling that way?”
A: “I feel that way because I have met people on both sides of the aisle who are very ready and eager to admit that neither candidate that they are looking at is the candidate that they would choose under different circumstances.”
Olivia King, a junior marketing major, is not only excited to vote in her first election but hopes others feel the same way.
Q: “How are you feeling about the upcoming presidential election in three words or less?”
A: “Excited, nervous, optimistic.”
Q: “Why are you feeling that way?”
A: “I’m super excited because it’s my first presidential election that I’ll be voting in, excited to choose the president and then I’m a little nervous just to see how it goes. I feel like people are either on one side or the other. And then, I’m optimistic because I think we could do really good things for our country. And just depending on how the election goes, I really just hope people go out and vote.”
Matt Erickson, a first-year business administration major, is feeling the nerves of a neck and neck race.
Q: “How are you feeling about the upcoming presidential election in three words or less?”
A: “Eager and, like, anxious.”
Q: “Why are you feeling that way?”
A: “Because, like, even I don’t really know who’s going to win, like, just from, like, everyone else’s opinions, like, I think it’s kind of, like, really 50-50.”
Sierra Baumann, a first-year meteorology major, is intrigued but confused by the mess of different opinions.
Q: “How are you feeling about the upcoming presidential election in three words or less?”
A: “Interesting but confusing.”
Q: “Why are you feeling that way?”
A: “Just having the two different sides coming from either (Donald) Trump or Kamala (Harris), about what they view, what they say about it. And it’s just very confusing depending on what you see.”
