I am only 17 and I’m attending the 2012 Democratic National Convention as the youngest member of the California delegation team. I would have never thought about signing up to go to the DNC without the push from my education mentor Ms. Daphne Bradford. Four years ago, when I was selected to enroll in Ms. B’s 9th grade digital media certification class I couldn’t have imagined that upon graduating high school in June 2012 I would be invited by Organizing for America, the president’s grassroots organizing machine, to go to Charlotte, North Carolina to represent California.

I’ll be 18 years old the day before the November 6th presidential election. My very first vote will be for President Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States. Most of my peers and students across the nation don’t know they can apply to be a district level delegate, at-large delegate or a member of one of the president’s DNC committees. Ms. B knew I was planning on voting this year so she informed me that I qualified to become a delegate. Running for district level delegate was a fun experience although I didn’t win one of the four male spots for congressional district 37. When I got the call from Ms. Bradford informing me that Mary Jane Stevenson, OFA-California state director had selected me to serve on President Obama’s Credentials Committee as part of the CA delegation team I was pleasantly surprised.

In my government class I learned about delegates going to conventions during general elections but I had no idea that someone as young as myself could be a member of a delegate team. The Credentials Committee handles questions and any problems involving the seating of delegates and alternates at the convention. I will attend committee briefings a few hours after I touch ground in Charlotte, NC. From Sunday, September 2 through Thursday, September 6, when President Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination, I will have a say in the DNC decision-making process. I’m excited that my voice will be heard.

Going to the Democratic National Convention will be a learning experience for me because it will be out of my comfort zone. Most young people like myself find politics boring and not as important as it is. This will be the first time that I am a part of a political event of this size, and I think young people such as myself should get more involved in politics because government decisions affect our lives.

As soon as someone turns 18 I believe they should register to vote so they can vote for the person they want in the White House and their communities. Being the fact that I will have the chance to vote this year — because my birthday is the day before the presidential election — I am going to vote for the presidential candidate that is going to try and assist citizens with their financial needs and education. This in turn will benefit me in the long run because I need as much financial assistance as I can get for my college education. I will be a freshman at Cal Poly Pomona this fall.

Since I was involved in politics in the 9th grade, I know which candidate is going to help me with my financial assistance. I’ve been supporting President Barack Obama all this time. The Democratic National Convention allows me to further support the presidential candidate who will assist middle class families like mine. I hope to see other people as young as myself at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC.