There are a lot of things we take for granted in the United States, especially as young adults. From our First Amendment rights to the fact that there hasn’t been a war on American soil in almost 50 years, there are things we forget when thinking about politics. We are all very quick to exercise certain rights and praise the people protecting our nation. But for as much as our country and those who protect it give us, we don’t give very much back. One major way we can all do something for the country that has done so much for us is to vote.

So here are five great reasons to vote in the upcoming presidential election.

1. Unless you are a white male, which is only about 36 percent of the population, someone fought very hard for your right to vote because they believed that your opinion mattered, and they were right—your opinion matters.

2. No one else votes with your generation in mind, and when there are 44 million of you, that’s a lot to ignore. Not only does the Millennial generation make up a huge proportion of voters, it is also the most diverse group of voters. When only a few kinds of people vote, only a few kinds of people are represented.

3. Each one of those 44 million votes can change the course of history, and you are one of those votes.

4. The issues of this election are among the most critical in all of history. From Planned Parenthood to the fighting in Syria, the decisions made on these issues will, at some point, probably affect something or someone in your life.

5. As much as we don’t want to admit it, we are all adults. And not only are we capable of making our own decisions, we are expected to. That rule also applies to how our country is run, and by whom. In the years after college, you will most likely be surprised by how much governmental policy actually affects your life.

So, not only is it everyone’s responsibility to vote, it is also our responsibility to be educated about what we are voting for. So take some time in the next few months to look into the candidates, their policies, and what they really stand for. Oh, and don’t forget to register to vote!