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America is facing a monumental election. In the shadow of the nation's greatest landmarks, Kamala Harris delivered her closing argument to the American people. With over 70,000 in attendance, the National Mall was flooded with supporters during an event that quickly emerged as a watershed moment in the Vice President’s campaign. Standing before the White House, facing the gaze of global onlookers anxiously anticipating next week’s presidential election, Harris shared her final message of strength and unity with the country and the world.ÌýÌý

Moving from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, to pursue a degree in International Studies at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, my perspective on the importance political activism has been transformed. As a college student looking to build a future as a political leader, I’ve learned that in Washington, DC, the future of politics is looking for leaders too. The political history and energy of the area consumes the city and latches on to anyone seeking inspiration and opportunities to create change. Ìý

When Kamala Harris announced that her final campaign event would take place on the Ellipse, there was an instant buzz in the city and on campus. People were discussing attending the rally in my classes, in the lounge of my residence hall, and on the shuttle bus. With student groups promoting the event and making it easy to access registration links to ensure entrance, I was able to secure a ticket with ease. I left my final class of the day at 2:00 p.m., dropped my backpack on the floor of my freshman dorm room, waited five minutes for the Â鶹ÊÓƵ shuttle, got on the metro, and was in line for the Vice President's speech before 2:45 p.m. With a spot on the crowd rail just to the left of the podium, my roommate and I had a front-row seat to history.ÌýÌý

At the rally, the ideals of unity and common ground portrayed through Harris’ speech were reflected by the diversity of those in attendance. My roommate, Audrey, and I stood and waited for almost six hours before Vice President Harris made her appearance, but the waiting was made painless by the joy and sense of community around us. We watched a Vietnam veteran dancing to Beyoncé beside a queer person of color, we heard strangers behind us bonding over their internships on Capitol Hill, and we recognized the faces of classmates and faculty in the crowd of thousands. I felt a renewed sense of pride in being American while standing with these people, surrounded by the country’s history and united by a desire to create our own. Ìý

The upcoming election is the first since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the first since the invasion of Ukraine and the outbreak of war in Gaza, and the first where a woman of color represents a major party on the ticket. The upcoming election is also the first in which I will be eligible to vote. Living in DC and being on campus at Â鶹ÊÓƵ has shown me the importance of making my voice heard. Creating big changes in the world of international politics requires taking advantage of the small opportunities to participate in domestic democratic systems and political culture. Â鶹ÊÓƵ makes it possible to embrace both in an environment where individuals and their government could not be more closely intertwined.Ìý