Blog post #2 Anahid Santisteban

The Elections Matter project was a really interesting experience because it helped me understand how elections affect so many different parts of our lives. Each group talked about a different topic, including voting, education, the economy, and immigration. What I liked most about the presentations was how everyone had their own way of explaining their information. I also really liked the PowerPoints because they were creative, well-organized, and informative. The different designs and visuals made the presentations more interesting and easier to follow. Overall, I enjoyed seeing the effort everyone put into their work, and I learned things that I had never really thought about before.

The first group included Ariana Rodriguez, Anahid Santisteban, Connie Marquez, Bryanna Fernandez, and Anthony Mulet. This was my group, and we focused on the electorate and the election process. We talked about voter registration, voter turnout, participation, and some of the reasons why people do not vote. While researching my part, I learned that there are many people who do not participate in elections because they either do not understand the process or do not think their vote will make a difference. Something that stood out to me was how important it is for college students to become more involved in elections because the decisions being made today will affect our future. I really enjoyed working on this project with my group because we all had the opportunity to share information and contribute to the presentation. I also liked how our PowerPoint came out because it was organized, visually appealing, and easy to understand. I think we did a good job making sure our information was clear without including too much unnecessary information. Another thing I enjoyed was the interview portion because it gave us the opportunity to hear someone else’s perspective on government and voting. Overall, I was happy with how our presentation turned out.

The second group included Leanys Sainz, Kiyana Lugg, Hilary Garcia, Gethuran Bertheau, Katelin Borrell, and Keethan Whittaker. Their presentation was about education policies, which I thought was a really important topic, especially because we are all college students. Something I learned from this topic was how much government decisions can affect education. Things like school funding, financial aid, and the resources available to students are influenced by policies made by elected officials. I think sometimes we forget that these decisions can directly affect our opportunities in school. What I liked about this presentation was that the information was relatable and easy to understand. I also liked how the PowerPoint was structured because the slides were clear and the information was presented in a way that kept the audience interested. I appreciate when presentations include visuals and explanations instead of having too much writing on each slide. This topic made me realize that when we vote, we should also think about the candidates’ plans for education because those decisions can affect students like us.

The third group consisted of Lucas Vanegas, Nuria Loayza, Lucia Urdaneta, Mykelin Tellez, Quincy Denis, Pablo Pineda, and Matthew Boch. Their presentation focused on the economy, which I thought was another interesting topic because it affects everyone. Whether we are working, buying groceries, paying bills, or trying to save money, the economy plays a big role in our everyday lives. Something that stood out to me was how government decisions can affect things like inflation, employment, and the cost of living. I think this is important because many people complain about how expensive everything is without always understanding how economic policies work. I liked that this topic was something everyone could relate to in some way. I also appreciated how the information was explained because economic topics can sometimes be confusing. Having an organized PowerPoint with useful information made it easier to understand the main points. I think the presentation did a good job connecting the economy to situations we experience in our everyday lives. My biggest takeaway was that we should pay attention to the economic plans of the people we vote for because their decisions can affect our financial situations.

The fourth group included Santiago Pineda, Thalia Diaz, Valerie Hernandez, Sophia Avendano, and Sheila Pagarizabal. Their presentation focused on immigration policies, which I found really interesting because immigration is such an important topic in the United States. Living in South Florida, we are surrounded by people from different countries and backgrounds, so I think this topic is especially relevant to our community. Something I learned was how immigration policies can affect families, job opportunities, and people’s futures. I also realized how important it is to understand these policies instead of only listening to what politicians say about immigration. What I liked about this topic was that it focused on something that affects real people and families. I think immigration is a subject that deserves attention because government decisions can have a major impact on people’s lives. I also appreciated how the presentation approached the topic and organized the information. The PowerPoint helped make the main ideas easier to follow, especially because immigration policies can be complicated. Overall, this presentation reminded me that elections can affect people in many different ways, even when we do not personally experience those situations.

The last part of the project was the Elections Matter synopsis and evaluation presented by the project managers. I liked this part because it brought everything together and reminded us of what the project was really about. Even though every group had a different topic, they all connected to elections and the importance of voting. I think the project managers had an important role because they helped bring together the work everyone had done. I also liked how this part gave us the opportunity to reflect on the presentations and think about what we learned from each group.

One thing I appreciated about the project overall was how much effort everyone put into making their presentations interesting. I enjoyed seeing the different PowerPoint designs, the visuals, and the way each group organized their information. I also liked that the interviews allowed us to hear different opinions and experiences instead of only relying on research. I think that made the project more meaningful and helped connect the topics to real life.

Overall, I really enjoyed the Elections Matter project because it taught me more about issues that affect us every day. I liked learning from my classmates and seeing how everyone explained their topics differently. The presentations helped me understand that voting is not just about choosing someone for office, but also about the decisions that person will make regarding education, the economy, immigration, and our future. This project reminded me that it is important to stay informed, understand what we are voting for, and recognize that our voices matter.