I originally registered to vote last week out of sheer resentment, and ever since then, I’ve been asking myself why I did it. It was a surprisingly easy process – almost too easy – and there was a part of me that left with the impression that I had just sold my soul. I’ve never had the desire to get involved with politics in any way, shape or form because it always seemed to be such a source of shame and disappointment. I’ve even declined to write about it for fear that my bitterness would come through in all its acerbic glory.

But even though politics can be off-putting, that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. There are a lot of us who rant day in and day out about how much we hate Bush and yet we’re still not voting. We may feel we don’t have an interest in politics simply because it hasn’t lived up to our expectations.

At a time like this, we get a lot of our ideas from TV. Campaigns are smeared across our screens; debates are at their most heated; the candidates are neck-and-neck – but have you noticed that a lot of what is said is not aimed at the needs and interests of young people? That’s because the majority of young people don’t make their voices heard. If they did, there would be more of a chance for the kinds of changes we are looking for to take hold.

Don’t be afraid of voting for the wrong person. Candidates – no matter who they are – advocate change of some sort. The importance lies in first finding out what’s important to you and then using that as a platform from which to dive into the fray. Kerry and Bush may disagree on some things and agree on others. This lack of complete heterogeneity can be a source of anxiety for many new voters. They may become unsure of themselves and their stance or unsure as to whether the candidates are being truthful or are saying only what the public wants to hear.

What you have to consider is that even if a candidate doesn’t agree with everything you do, he is probably the candidate for you if he agrees with most of everything.

It may not be the one you thought it would be.

College students make the most of their time at school by educating themselves academically and practically. That means they are establishing themselves as individuals in society; they are building on and possibly changing their previously existing opinions. This is a vulnerable stage, and oftentimes, their positions are challenged in the process. In fact, it can lead some people to believe that in the long run, their opinions don’t matter.

But they do.

What it boils down to is this – you probably shouldn’t be voting if you’re not properly informed or if you don’t have specific reasons for backing a candidate. But if you are open to hearing what both Kerry and Bush have to say, your vote will matter even among millions. That’s not to say that your vote will be the one that decides the election – it probably won’t be. But, by not voting, we are saying we just don’t care; we are indifferent. We are letting others make our decisions for us and now is a time when our opinions are most needed. Americans – no matter their age – can’t afford to be indifferent. Apathy is the enemy of change.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.