by Lauren Krupar
Hudson Hub-Times Associate Editor
Hello. My name is Lauren and I am a political junkie.
I was watching "West Wing" episodes when my friends were watching "Survivor." Long before I learned about Watergate and President Nixon in school, I read about it in Doonesbury cartoons.
It all escalated when I was just 18 -- my birthday had been less than a month before -- and I was standing in line waiting to vote.
All the debates my friends and I had about who was better suited to be president came down to that second in which the board of elections volunteer gave me my first primary ballot.
The moment I had that ballot in my hands, a shot of excitement coursed through my veins.
That ballot wasn't just a simple piece of paper to punch out votes. I had a voice -- a voice that mattered.
Forget about how "in loco parentis" comes into play during high school, forget about the little I knew of the world. I had a vote, which meant I had a voice in the future of my country's government.
I got a taste of that again this year when I attended two very different events at Hudson High School.
One event was in a crowded classroom with an atmosphere more akin to a Super Bowl party. The other in the school's auditorium felt more conversational.
Listening to first-time student voters discuss the issues as election results were tabulated reminded me of who I was. They were on fire with ideas and ideals.
Listening to a genocide survivor talk about her life challenged who I can become. Political involvement tends to do that.
POLITICAL aspirations continued in college, where I was a representative on the university's student council. We'd attend meetings, make decisions and debate about I can't remember what. It was all very parliamentary.
In the tradition of the first Republic and the gladiator games, the biggest thing my group of student council members did was throw a massive block party for our residents.
There was a DJ, balloons, popcorn stand, Icees and one of those inflatable bouncy things. It wasn't very political.
A wave of "Get Out The Vote" swept the campus the next year. Almost all the New York natives signed up for absentee ballots as one of this year's presidential front-runners was on the ballot for state senator.
Political rhetoric, already high on campus, kicked into a higher gear as protests, marches and petitions littered the grounds. Polling places were overwhelmed by student voters.
Even though I had an absentee ballot and had voted months before the election, the same thrill of being involved was there.
The punch tool I used to cast my vote that year hung from my keychain until I graduated -- a symbol of civic duty.
A few elections and years later, I was back in the voting booth on primary day this year.
I had moved to another county, failed to vote in previous elections and was slightly disenchanted with the process, but I was there. I voted, and I smiled because of it.
In an ironic twist of fate, the next day I was called to jury duty where I sat and read book on justice for more than three hours.
I was there because I was a registered voter. I was there because of a civic duty not all places have -- the right to vote.
Yes, I am a political junkie, and I'm proud of it.
E-mail: lkrupar@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3146