I learned about political engagement from my parents.
I grew up in a working-class family. My father was a truck driver, and when we were of school age, my mother worked part-time in a hair accessories factory. I had the best headbands and bows as a child. At dinner, which was always at 5:00 PM, we’d discuss our day, then move right into discussing current events – national and global. My three siblings and I were encouraged to have opinions and as we got older we learned we had to back up those opinions with facts.
I remember loud debates as we challenged each other. When friends came for dinner they thought we were fighting. I had to assure them we were having a passionate political discussion.
Three daily newspapers were delivered to our home, one paper had an AM and PM edition. My parents were civic-minded and involved with local politics. I over-heard phone calls made to our elected assemblyperson to inform the office that a park swing needed repair or a pothole needed to be filled. Yes, they taught us that elected officials worked for us. By the way, it always worked or there’d be a follow-up call.
Politics wasn’t limited to local concerns. We talked about U.S. foreign policy framed for us to understand its impact on our lives and how it would impact people living outside the United States.
As a result, I follow national and foreign policy news daily – with a close lens on social and health policy in the United States.
From a young age, my mother took me with her going door-to-door to register our neighbors to vote. She worked for the Board of Elections in our community every election signing people in to cast their vote. The year I turned 18, I got a job doing the same.
I vote in every election. Wednesday, I voted in-person early. After I scanned my ballot for BidenHarris, I cried. As I walked past the 100s of people waiting two or more hours in line to vote, I stopped to thank a worker for doing such a good job. She was very grateful for the kind words. Then I cried some more on my walk home.
My tears were a mixture of hope, pride, and fear.
I encourage you, if you haven’t already voted, to do so too.
Nursing is political.
