A high school student who reaches the age of 18 can get involved in politics in the most basic way – by registering to vote – or in a more substantial way – by volunteering to help a candidate seek election.
Eureka High School has seen both levels of involvement.
Registering to vote is easy to do. As an election approaches, volunteers walk around the high school lunch room, looking for seniors who want to sign up to exercise their right to vote.
All the seniors need to register is a driver’s license or a Social Security card.
Once registration has been completed by the government-set deadline, students face the question of deciding who they will vote for.
Students can pick candidates by doing research, looking at campaign literature or following their parents’ political views.
Eureka High senior Sophie Crain said she has always agreed with her parents.
“I align with their beliefs,” she said. “I agree with how they view the role of government in society.”
Crain’s attitude is common, but not applicable across the board. While many voting teenagers stick to the political beliefs they were raised in, some make it a point to step outside those boundaries.
Some students are inspired to get involved in political campaigns.
Nick Weaver, Eureka Class of 2017
Nick Weaver, who graduated from Eureka High in 2017, said a high school class set him on a path of political volunteerism.
“My AP Government class as a junior was very impactful in learning about the nature of our government and the importance of being a part of it,” Weaver said.
In the 2016 election cycle, Weaver helped Eric Greitens, the Republican candidate for Missouri governor, win his election.
What happened afterward was a political education in itself, as Greitens, scandal-ridden and controversial, was pressured to resign.
Like Weaver, 2017 graduate Isaac Miller also felt compelled to assist in a campaign.
Miller is currently active in Josh Hawley’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Miller is a campus training leader at St. Louis Community College.
“That means I go to my college and I recruit volunteers to knock on doors,” Miller said. “I try to get my peers to get involved in as many ways as possible; whether that be door-knocking or simply signing a petition.”