The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Lauren L. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Take Action - Volunteer for a Political Campaign
Last Thursday, October 16th, I once again made my way to Representative John Proos house to help volunteer with his campaign. After waiting for the assistants, Kim and Becky, to finish breakfast, we went out into the garage and began stapling signs together. We worked in silence for several minutes, but eventually the topic of the election was brought up.
"So what do you think of Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin?" I asked them. They looked at each other and laughed. "It's pretty funny stuff," Becky replied. "Her act is spot-on. But yeah, you never really see people in entertainment making fun of liberal people." I had to agree. Our conversation drifted around politics for the next hour or so, discussing issues like the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes and the current state of the public school system in America. It was great being able to skip school for the day to actually learn something.
When we were finished putting the signs together, Kim and I hopped in her car to drive up to Niles, Michigan, where we were planning on putting yard signs around town for Rep. Proos. The list of houses we were to stop by was already approved and set, but actually placing the signs in the yard was another ordeal. One lady came running out of her house, demanding where we had gotten the authority to place the sign in her grass. We apologized and mentioned that she had approved this over the phone. She said that she absolutely hadn't and if we weren't going to leave her property, she was going to call the police. After apologizing again, we gathered our things and hopped back on the road. "Does that sort of thing happen often?" I asked Kim. She told me that it does sometimes. "People are ferociously divided in this country. There really is no grey area anymore in politics. You're either left or you're right. Black or white. No questions. No confusion. People fight and argue over who would make a better candidate like they were their own family members. It's completely ridiculous." Yeah, it is ridiculous. After all, we're all Americans, right? We all simply want what's best for our country; we just have different means and values of what is best for the U.S.
As we headed back to Rep. Proos house, I realized that I had gained something more than a few volunteer hours that day. I had gained an experience –I had truly learned. Here I was, with the actual chance to do what I one day may be doing myself. There truly is no better way to get a well-rounded education in politics than to just jump into it. Maybe it's better to just put the book down and pick up a stapler. I certainly learned a lot more there than in front of any whiteboard.
