The ‘thumb area’ of Michigan was an enigma of a place to grow up. It has everything you can imagine in a midwest area: it’s small and quaint, has endless farmland, and it’s full of honest, hard-working people. But there’s one thing that stands out — it’s overwhelmingly red.

I never quite understood what being “red” meant and how it affected my life. “Swing state” is another one of those terms, and it’s one that’s been thrown around since I first heard the words “Trump” and “President” in the same sentence. That’s because Michigan is currently a swing state, and has been for the past two elections. 

I never cared about politics growing up. And honestly, I had never felt that politics cared about my life either. Even writing this editorial, I thought to myself ‘I never thought about politics, so it didn’t impact me.’ But this is the furthest thing from the truth. 

I grew up in a lower-middle-class family, but don’t be fooled by the wording; we were poor. The isolated midwest is full of families like mine and it feels as though many share the same sentiment, not caring or avoiding. Our voices didn’t matter anyway so there was never a fight. Why try when the presidents who make the promises can’t pull through? Especially in 2016, when many families on the east side still felt the post-2008 recession.

It wasn’t until Trump began his campaign for president that I noticed people beginning to feel seen. For the first time, everybody was loud and it didn’t matter what they said. There was a newfound patriotism, but I also noticed there was a considerable amount of racism.

I learned at a young age that we didn’t have a lot. It was a political awakening that still affects me today. Being nine years old and feeling like I had to help make financial decisions, feeling guilty asking for new shoes or skipping field trips. Being poor was hard. Being poor in a poor place was worse. 

Coming to Goshen, the views from home are very different. And although I don’t agree with Trump, I can’t agree with the rhetoric that people only support him because he’s racist, or he’s sexist and a misogynist. There has to be more. Upon talking to my peers and holding an open conversation, I was told that he “embodies the American dream,” and I agree. The poor, voiceless, farmers, electricians, hardworking midwesterners, are done. And I feel that Trump fills in that gap.

My second political awakening came during my freshman year of highschool. After a story broke out about a group of teens who were caught bordering boxes around the house of a local Hispanic family with a sign planted at their front door that read “Stay On Your Side of the Wall.”

The students were eventually caught and faced consequences. What those were, I don’t know. This took place less than a year after Trump’s inauguration.

As much as I want to play both sides, and as much as I love my home and feel for those people, I can’t ignore the truth. This past Sunday, Trump held a rally in which many questionable, and outright disgraceful things were said and took place. It’s hard to see something like that take place and to find understanding between both sides. And we need to understand that he’s telling the truth of his agenda. So what really is it? 

I’m not voting for Trump, I’m voting for Kamala Harris. But as much as I find what Trump says reprehensible, we need to find a better way to fill that gap for the voiceless. Especially in the places most vulnerable, like home.