PERSONAL ESSAYS ON
the Importance of our Vote By Ava Rumsey, Class of 2025 At Harpeth Hall, I am grateful to have the freedom to discover and use my voice. As the presidential election approaches, I’ve realized that the ultimate use of our voices lies in the right to vote. Voting is every citizen’s way to have a say in society’s important decisions. It is the bedrock of a Democracy. I’ve come to appreciate the power of the vote by reflecting on underrepresented groups, like women, who had to fight for the right. My generation has not experienced a time where women could not vote, so many of us take this right for granted. But in seventh-grade history, we learned about the women of the suffrage movement, including Ward Seminary’s Anne Dallas Dudley. These brave women dedicated their lives to fighting for women’s rights. They marched in rallies, spoke at conferences, and made incredible sacrifices for the sake of a better future. For decades, women had no say in the decisions that affected their lives. They had no voice. After women earned the right to vote, they showed the world how powerful their voices could be. However, it wasn’t until the 1965 Voting Rights Act that all women, including women of color, were able to freely exercise their right to vote. The women of the suffrage movement fought for us to have a voice, and now we owe it to them and ourselves to use that voice and vote. Voting is how we create change in the world around us. Although I’m not of voting age yet, I am aware of the serious issues that impact me and others. Racial and gender equality, healthcare, and climate change are some of the current topics that inspire me to speak out. In four years, I look forward to having a say in all of these matters. In the fall of my senior year, I will be heading to the polls for the first time to vote in the 2024 Presidential election. I can’t wait. I intend to use my voice and vote. 38
HALLWAYS
