2008 Woodie Awards
Teens begin to flex political muscle
By Samuel Gomez, Warren High School
Issue date: 6/30/08 Section: News
Originally published: 6/29/08 at 10:37 AM CSTLast update: 9/4/08 at 2:00 PM CST
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Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., are paying more attention to teens in the general election, and growing teen interest has emerged.
"It's a new kind of election," Chris Cantu, a senior at McCollum High School, said. "With Obama attracting new people and teens, it all trickles down to the youth."
Next school year, Cantu, a political activist, will join with friend Roy Aguillon to launch a group at his school called One Voice.
"Teenagers see the same old thing," Cantu said. "(McCain) is a white man. He's old. He's not interesting until you get another candidate like Barack Obama."
Cantu and Aguillon go to churches on Sunday to help encourage teens to vote.
"When the campaign was in town, we had a huge volunteer base," Aguillon, a junior at McCollum High School, said. "On March 4 (the Texas Primary), a lot of us took off of school and went to work the polls. We helped out a whole bunch. I'd say we had a good 20 to 30 people."
Aguillon, who is 16 and the Student Council president at the Leadership School at McCollum, and Cantu are just some of the many teens who recently became politically involved.
Cantu and Aguillon are both younger than 18, but that will not stop them from continuing to participate in politics and better prepare themselves for the future when they are old enough to vote.
"I'll be able to help people understand how to vote or who to vote for," Aguillon said. "When I do have a chance, I'll be there as soon as I can."
The most influential issue that will affect teens is education.
"College loans are getting real high. Lowering interest rates on college loans would be a really good idea," Aguillon said. Though he's not in that position and doesn't have to take out a college loan yet, he admits he still is worried.
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