Voting can be a bit intimidating if one does not have the appropriate guidance, especially for first-time voters. My name is Monica B. Villa; I am a current intern at The Urban League of Philadelphia and a first-time voter.

Growing up, my father was always an active voter, but my mother was not. I asked her why she would not vote.

“Why should I? I can’t make a difference,” she responded. At the time, I thought to myself, ‘Well, she is right.’ So, I also did not have any interest in political activism or voting.

It was not until my junior year of high school that my views on voting began to change. My history teacher took the time to explain the importance of voting to our class. The words I’ll never forget were, “Your vote counts; and, together, we can make a difference.”

This was the moment I realized voting influenced my education, health and wellness and socio-economic status. As a Latina, I saw how much my vote impacted the Latino(a)/Hispanic population, especially after doing the research and learning that voter turnout in my community was low, particularly during the 2016 presidential election.

Then, college began; and I did not take the time out of my schedule to learn how to vote. Peers and colleagues stressed how important it was to vote in the primaries but never demonstrated the steps to get started.

At my school, Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pa., students were stationed at tables asking passing students if they were registered to vote. Some would simply ignore them while others would say yes and walk away. For those who stopped, I watched and noted their hesitation as they filled out their voter applications.

I took an application and filled it out at the table, which made me uncomfortable because I felt like my personal information was being exposed to others around me. But after I registered to vote, I had no idea what to do next. I would hear friends talk about how confused they were about finding their voting location or how to get there because they were first-time voters, too.

I was among those unsure about voting locations because of unfamiliarity with the college town. Another thing that kept me from wanting to vote was that I did not have transportation and felt uncomfortable going by myself. Thankfully, I had a group of friends registered at the same location, and I learned it was within walking distance.

Once I figured out how to vote, where to vote, how to get there, and how to use the voting booth, I realized I may not have been the only one going through such an unclear and tedious experience.

This made me want to help—not just my fellow students, but my family and neighbors who may have experienced the same feelings and uncertainties I experienced. Voting is a privilege. As citizens, we should never take this democratic lever of power for granted. Voting should never be a chore spoiled by confusion or frustration. It’s important because I’ve learned that our vote counts; and, together, we can make a difference. El voto tuyo cuenta y juntos podemos hacer una diferencia.

I voted for the very first time Tuesday, November 6, 2018, in the midterm elections. I turned 18 the year before but became aware of and interested in the midterms when I applied for my temporary driver’s permit in May of the same year. The clerk asked if I was currently registered to vote. I told her I wasn’t, and she gave me a voter registration application.

In class, we talked about Issue 1 (a proposal that would reduce some drug crime sentences and emphasize treatment and rehabilitation) and the governor’s race. I was really interested in Issue 1. I felt that if it passed, it could potentially help a lot of people who had received extremely long and unfair sentences for small drug crimes. In my opinion, African Americans receive the harshest jail terms, which separates them from their families and leaves them unable to find employment afterwards.

I found the process of voting to be quite easy. In the past, my parents received absentee ballots so we could discuss issues and candidates, and I would have an idea of how a ballot was laid out. My mother joined me when I voted for the first time. We already knew our neighborhood polling station and received literature about the candidates and issues. I already knew the types of identification I needed to vote, so I was excited and ready to go.

Once there, the poll workers were very friendly and informative. They seemed to be excited that this was my first time voting and made me feel comfortable. I was very proud to receive my “I Voted” sticker after I cast my ballot. While I felt well informed on certain issues, I lacked knowledge on others. I was well prepared on the issues that received the most media attention but was very confused when it came to choosing judges and other officials.

I felt a deep sense of pride as I left the polling station. I felt as if my voice had been heard and my vote mattered. In the end, Issue 1 did not pass and my candidate for governor lost. I was disappointed, but I will vote again because it is my right and responsibility.

As a young, African-American woman, I believe it is important to vote. Many people fought, sacrificed and died for the right; and many other people in our country do not have the same privilege. But no matter your background, education or status, you should take advantage of this right.

If you feel like voting doesn’t matter or can’t change anything, I want you to know that it does matter, and things can change.  I know it feels like the powers that be don’t care about us; but if we work together towards a common goal, we can make change happen. If you are discouraged from voting, please know that your vote is important because without it a candidate or policy that could hurt your community or our country has a better chance of winning. Win or lose, you must exercise your right.

During the summer of my junior year of high school, I had the privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen but was unaware of the rights, responsibilities and privileges of American citizenship. I was uninformed about voting. I was uneducated about the changes that needed to be made in my community. Worse still, I unaware that these changes were all connected to the ballot box. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I educated myself on the voting process and on the daily problems my community faced.

I turned 18 the year of the 2016 presidential election—and it was scary. This was the launch of a new chapter in my life: graduation was approaching, college was around the corner, and I was going to register to vote for the first time—but I was lost. I didn’t know what I was going to vote for, when the election was scheduled, where I should register or where I had to report to vote.

It was my family and friends—and their stories—that motivated me to push past any obstacles and not only vote but become a voter volunteer. Like many families, I have relatives and friends who are immigrants and have lived in the United States since they can remember. Some of them can’t enjoy the privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen, so they don’t have the right to vote. My life-long best friend, who is like a sister to me, is smart, hardworking, trustworthy and a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient. Throughout our years of friendship, I have seen how hard she and other Latino community members have struggled to make a change despite their voices not being heard—and because of it.

When I work as a voter volunteer in my community, I put myself in their shoes. I try to motivate and influence people to get out and vote. Many of them are in the same situation as I am and don’t recognize that they have the power to vote for those who can’t. For me, voting has become an important ritual that allows me to represent myself—and my community. There is so much power in “one vote.” One vote can tip the scales and bring the change you want to your community. One vote can carry the weight of the hopes and dreams of family members and best friends you love who cannot cast a ballot.

In my role as a voter volunteer, I was shocked by the number of citizens who told me they never voted. It motivated me to keep spreading the word. Helping these community members understand the voting process not only put a smile on my face but taught me that education is key. I am still learning and still teaching others. I will continue to fight for the changes my family, my best friend and my fellow community members need. There is nothing better than being aware of your surroundings and knowing the power of your election day vote to truly bring a change.