Woodrow Wilson students march to the polls | Dallas News Live

We've been talking about it, like, all the time. Early voting, guess what? It's almost over, and we're seeing young people turning out this election cycle. Students at Woodrow Wilson marched to the polls yesterday, and for some of them, it was their first time voting. Joining me, Woodrow Wilson seniors, Keegan Black, and Maren Fitzsimmons. Maren, you voted for the first time. Tell me about the march, and tell me about how it felt voting for the first time. Yes, sir. It was definitely a great experience seeing everybody come together. as a community. We all were out there marching and voting for the first time was definitely a bit nerve wracking, but I'm glad I finally got to do it and get my vote out there and help make a change. Y'all had the drum line going, the cheerleaders, like it was really cool. Keegan, you're part of the Voter Empowerment Club. You're not old enough to vote yet, but why was this event so important to you guys? It was great getting a big community from our school to get out there and people our age don't realize what an impact we can make with just a small ballot and it was really just inspiring seeing people just like my friend Maren here getting out there making a difference and putting in her ballot for a change she wants to see in our government now not asking you guys who you vote for we're not talking about that on this interview but the fact that young people are are getting more involved what's been the conversations on campus or just to your friends for you, Maren or Keegan, what's been the conversation this year? Has it felt different to you guys? I think definitely a lot more people are looking to help make a change in our government, not just in Texas, but the whole United States. We all are looking to help make a change and seeing everybody out there yesterday They really showed how much the community is coming together. Yeah, especially as seniors now and as some of our peers are turning 18, we're finally getting the power to actually make a difference. So people have to get out there and learn about the system that's governing us. Keegan, do you think these politicians are doing a good enough job of reaching out to those voters who are about to be first-time voters? These really young voters who, I mean, you guys are going to be the leaders of our communities pretty soon. Do you think the politicians are reaching out to you guys where you are? I think we're just not putting ourselves out there enough. I wouldn't say it's much of the politicians. It's hard for us to, I mean, usually the people from 18 to 24 are the least represented in the demographics of voting. And we usually don't get out there because we don't think our vote will make a difference. And we're not educated enough to even know who to vote for. So I think, especially through SPEC and through our march to the polls, people our age and people who are turning 18 got to learn how to vote, learn about people who are running. And I think that awareness just needs to be fixed to get more people out there. Well, it looked really cool. I am so proud of you guys. We're proud of you guys for being civically engaged and I'm sure next year y'all just gonna do it even better cuz every election matters, not just this one. So Marin and Keegan, thank you guys so much. Thank you.