Blog post #2 Connie Marquez

The "Elections Matter" project was an excellent opportunity for me to explore areas I would typically not focus on. While I knew prior to the project that voting was essential, I did not fully understand how significantly elections impact us on a daily basis. With school, work, and other commitments, it can be easy to lose sight of what is going on within our government. During the course of the project, I became aware that several aspects of our lives such as the cost of living, education, and employment options are tied to the decisions of those who were elected to office. Additionally, I greatly appreciated being able to view each presentation as every group had a unique perspective and approach to conveying their message. It was exciting to see the creativity displayed by each group in creating their PowerPoints and the amount of effort they exerted in order to make the content accessible to all.

Our first team was comprised of Ariana Rodriguez, Anahid Santisteban, Bryanna Fernandez, Anthony Mulet and I (Connie Marquez). Our team studied the voters/the voting process, including the registration process for voters, the voter participation rates, and the reasons why individuals do not participate in voting. This was my team; therefore, I felt more connected to the content area as I had to invest time to study the material and understand the concepts versus merely listening to them. One thing that surprised me was the number of individuals who do not vote due to the belief that their individual votes do not count or due to lack of knowledge regarding the voting process. It appears as though this occurs frequently among younger generations as they begin to engage in political issues. I enjoyed working with my team and seeing all of our ideas develop into our final product/presentation. I also liked how our Power Point presented as we made an effort to organize it logically and make it aesthetically pleasing while keeping the amount of information contained within each slide minimal. I also found the interview portion of the project intriguing as it provided us with insight into another person's personal views on voting.

The other group consisted of Leanys Sainz, Kiyana Lugg, Hilary Garcia, Gethuran Bertheau, Katelin Borrell, and Keethan Whittaker. This group presented on education policy. I could relate to their presentation as we are all currently working on our education and future careers. What I thought was interesting was how much government policies can affect students without us knowing about them. Financial aid, tuition costs, funding for schools, and educational opportunities are all affected by policies supported by elected officials. I have to balance school with other responsibilities; therefore, I understand the importance of having opportunities to pursue education. I enjoyed how they explained the material because it wasn't overly complex, and their slides made it easier to follow. Their presentation made me realize that I need to be more aware of educational issues when considering who I vote for.

The final group consisted of Lucas Vanegas, Nuria Loayza, Lucia Urdaneta, Mykelin Tellez, Quincy Denis, Pablo Pineda, and Matthew Boch. The focus of their presentation was the economy. I feel like I could relate to their topic more than any other. Because I am working, paying bills, and managing a small business; I know what it means to be expensive in today's world. With rent, groceries, business costs, and saving for the future, the economy impacts my daily life. It was interesting to hear about how policy decisions impact inflation, employment rates, and the cost of living. Often we complain about the high costs of everything around us, however we do not always realize the numerous factors that contribute to these costs. This group did an excellent job of presenting the information in a way that was easy to relate to and showed how economic decisions affect average citizens. Their presentation reminded me that as I continue to grow my business and become more financially stable, understanding the economy will become increasingly important to me.

The fourth group consisted of Santiago Pineda, Thalia Diaz, Valerie Hernandez, Sophia Avendano, and Sheila Pagarizabal. This group presented on Immigration Policies; I believe this was an additional relevant topic to explore, given our location in Miami. Miami is a culturally diverse community, and therefore immigration is a common theme throughout our lives. Many individuals within our communities are descendants of immigrants who sought improved opportunities in the United States. Therefore, I believe the topic of Immigration Policies is far more personal than simply watching it unfold in the media. One aspect of the presentation that resonated with me was the consideration of how Immigration Policies may influence the future of individuals, their families, and their employment/existence within the United States. Additionally, I realized that some individuals develop perspectives regarding Immigration Policies prior to acquiring knowledge of the policies and their impact upon actual families. I appreciated that the presentation prompted us to consider the topic of Immigration Policies from a broader viewpoint. This presentation served as a reminder that although a specific policy established by the government may not have a direct effect on my existence, it could potentially have a significant impact on another individual's existence.

The final portion of the project was the Elections Matter synopsis and evaluation provided by each of the project managers. I found the final part of the project very helpful in seeing the "bigger picture" because of the way it tied together each presentation. In the beginning, education, immigration, the economy and voting may have seemed like unrelated subjects; however, at the conclusion of the project, I realized that these issues are related. I also believe the project managers were essential in organizing all components of the project and ensuring that it came together. It was great to review all of the different presentations and realize how much information we had reviewed as a class.

I loved that I could learn so much from the other students on my team during this project. Sometimes in class, I don't think we see how much we can learn from one another. I liked seeing everyone's creative side during the PowerPoint presentations, as well as their unique way of doing things. Each group had their own design and way of presenting information. I found some presentations were memorable for being visually appealing and some were memorable for explaining the information clearly. I also liked the interview section of the project. This part helped me feel like the project was more "real." Instead of simply looking at facts and research, we were able to find out what people thought and felt about the issue. I believe this made the overall experience more enjoyable.

I think overall, I can tell you that this project really changed how I viewed elections. I wouldn't say that I now have all the answers regarding politics (I definitely do not), however, I do believe that I'm more knowledgeable about why being informed is so important. At this stage in my life, I'm attempting to establish a future, expand my company, continue my education, and gain independence. With that being said, I now understand that there are numerous ways that government decisions will impact the goals I am currently pursuing. A major lesson I've learned throughout this process is that I shouldn't wait until an election is occurring to begin educating myself on key issues. Instead, I want to take a proactive approach to understanding what's happening around me and develop my own views on matters based upon facts versus simply what I hear from others. I truly enjoyed this project, not only because I acquired additional knowledge, but also because it allowed me to link what we're studying in school to my personal life and future. This was likely the most significant aspect of the whole experience for me.