Throughout most of our lives, as I know was the case with me, we were told time and time again that we were “only kids” and that we would “understand when we were older.” I often found this response to be rather frustrating, and I fought against it time and again by making sure I was heard and by developing as complete a stance as possible so as to vigorously defend it. But as I continued to grow, I expected that these dismissals would diminish. After all, I thought, I am no longer a kid, so surely my opinion should be as respected as such.

Much to my dismay, all I found was a shift in verbiage. No longer were my opinions “child-like,” they became “naïve” and “a nice thought, but unrealistic.” For me, this was infuriating; and, being the petty person that I am, these evolved snubs only proved to strengthen my conviction. But there are those in my generation who were not gifted with such a strong sense of stubbornness. I think they grew discouraged in the face of this opposition, still quietly wondering when they should feel free enough to express and strive for what they think is right.

At no time is this discouragement more detrimental than during an election year, especially this one. Our nation is at a pivotal crossroads, about to embark down one of two very different paths for at least four years, the effects of which could last for years to come. What many fail to understand is the long-reaching consequences of the actions of today’s politicians—that they disproportionately affect the youngest, and often most silent, voting bloc. Laws, judicial decisions, and diplomatic stances adopted today stand to affect our lives for their duration or, at least, until one of our own can ascend to office.

So please fight the discouragement. Get angry; become passionate. Vigorously show your support or disapproval. Inform yourself of the goings-on in the world in order to stay in the know. Form opinions and learn to defend them. They matter—they matter more than you know. Never forget that your vote is your voice and that your voice is worth hearing. “Why should I care,” “how does this affect me,” and “my vote doesn’t matter” are three things I hear all too often from my friends. In all honesty, these statements do nothing more than make me want to resign to a prolonged future of political apathy. But my stubborn nature implores me to think otherwise—to hold onto the hope that one day they’ll wake up. That one day they’ll realize their opinions are not unique. That one day they’ll realize one voice has the potential to jump start an entire movement.

Our generation has a very varied image. To some, we are the least grounded, most selfish generation yet—much more concerned with maintaining our own image than developing personal relationships with others. Yet to others, we are the most generous, most vocal against injustices, and most willing to defend the rights and humanity of our fellow man. Whatever our nature, we owe it to ourselves to be heard. We owe it to ourselves to influence the political process in a way that we see fit: it’s our future after all. What we can never do is be silent, for silence fuels injustice and only serves to validate those who dismissed our thoughts and ideas as dreamful delusion. If we so choose, that dream can be our future. All we have to do is muster the courage to speak.