Valentina Gutirrez

Civics
Stacy Joslin
May 22, 2016

Civics - End of Course Reflection

Growing up undocumented, I was acutely aware of the rights and privileges I was
missing out on in the US. Apart from being kept from my family, I knew that if I was still
undocumented in the future, I wouldnt get to vote, drive, or receive federal financial aid to go to
college. Today, I feel quite fortunate to say that I can do 2 out of 3 of the aforementioned. I can
drive, and in the fall, Ill be heading to one of the nations oldest and most prestigious colleges.
Yet, I still dont have a say in who leads my city, state, or country. The truth is, Ive always
wanted to vote -- growing up listening to my father rant about the dismal state of the worlds
governments cemented that for me -- but Civics class has helped me understand why it truly is so
important.
The very first section that we read in We the People taught me that the Founders believed
that government is meant to be a servant of the people. Indeed, the government can only serve
We the People of the United States if it takes into consideration how we would like to be
served. One way to demand the governments attention (apart from revolutionizing) is voting.
Voting is a direct way of choosing the legislative branch of our government, as well as the head
of our executive branch, which in turn chooses the judicial branch.
Voting is a right but it was not always considered so. Some short time ago, it wasnt even
guaranteed -- as women had the same rights as underage children, and were not granted political
rights. In fact, We the People says that the very being or legal existence of the woman [was]
suspended during marriage. Taking this into consideration, it is vital that I vote and use the right
that suffragettes passed down to me.
Civics has taught me that voting is a way of ensuring representation -- whether it be the
representation of people of color or of women -- in a government that is founded on popular
sovereignty. So, yes, when I can, I will vote.