Elections Matter Reflection - Abigail Nunez

 Elections Matter Blog 

October 29,2026

After watching all three presentations, I realized that even though each group talked about something different, all the topics connect to our everyday lives. The presentations were about the economy, education policies, and elections. These are things we hear about pretty often, but we do not always stop and think about how much they actually affect us. I liked that the groups gave examples because it helped me understand the topics better instead of just listening to a bunch of facts. Each presentation taught me something new, and some of the things they talked about made me think about situations I could experience in my own life.

The first presentation was about the economy and how it affects people every day. I think this is something most of us can relate to because see prices going up all the time. Whether it is groceries, gas, or other things we need, everything can get expensive really quickly. The group also explained how Democrats and Republicans have different ideas about how to handle the economy. I thought it was interesting to hear about both sides because people have different opinions about what would actually help the country. They also talked about how international trade can affect the prices of things like laptops and textbooks. I never really thought about how things happening in other countries could affect the prices we pay here. Overall, this presentation helped me realize that the economy is not just something politicians talk about. It affects regular people and the decisions they have to make every day.

The second presentation was about education policies, and I think this one was the easiest for me to relate to because I am in college. College can already be stressful, especially when you have to worry about paying for classes while also trying to balance school and work. The group talked about financial aid, school funding, standardized testing, and support for students with special needs. The part that stood out to me the most was the example of a student losing their financial aid in the middle of college. If that happened to me, I would be really stressed because I would have to figure out how to pay for my classes. I might have to work more hours, take out loans, or take fewer classes so I could afford to keep going to school. I would not want to fall behind, but I would also need to make sure I could pay for everything. That example made me realize how much financial aid can affect a student's future. Sometimes people assume that students can just find another way to pay, but it is not always that simple. The group also talked about education laws, including Brown v. Board of Education and the Every Student Succeeds Act. I learned that the education system has changed a lot over the years because of different laws and government decisions. They also discussed education policies in Florida and Miami-Dade College, which made the topic feel more relevant to me. After watching this presentation, I realized that government decisions can affect students more than we might think, even when we are just trying to get through school and earn our degrees.

The third presentation focused on elections and how the voting process works. Before watching it, I knew the basics about voting, but I did not know much about how the process works in other countries. The group talked about voter registration, voter ID requirements, primaries, and the different ways people can vote. I thought it was interesting to learn that the United States uses the Electoral College to elect the president, while countries like Canada and the United Kingdom have different systems. They also talked about Australia, where voting in federal elections is required. I found that interesting because people in the United States can choose whether they want to vote or not. The presentation also covered campaign financing and how money can influence elections. It made me think about how many things happen behind the scenes before someone becomes a political leader. I also think this topic is important for people my age because a lot of young adults do not really pay attention to elections. Sometimes, people might feel like their vote does not matter or that politics is not something they need to worry about yet. However, elections can affect things like college costs, financial aid, job opportunities, healthcare, and the economy. These are things that can directly affect us, especially as we get older and become more independent. This presentation reminded me that voting is not just about choosing a president. It is also about having a say in decisions that could affect our lives.

One thing I noticed while watching the presentations was that there were a few problems with the audio and slides. At certain points, it was a little difficult to follow what was being said because of the technical issues. I know that things do not always go as planned, especially when you have to present in front of a class, so I do not think it takes away from the effort the groups put into their work. I think testing everything beforehand and having a backup plan could make things go more smoothly next time. Besides those small issues, I was still able to understand the main points and learn something from each presentation.

Overall, I think all three presentations were helpful because they covered things that actually matter in our lives. The economy affects how much money we spend, education policies affect our experience as students, and elections help determine who makes decisions for the country. Before watching these presentations, I did not really think about how connected all these topics were. Now, I can see how one thing can affect another. For example, the people we elect can make decisions about financial aid, and the economy can affect whether families can afford college in the first place. My biggest takeaway is that these topics are not just things we learn about for a grade. They are things we should understand because they can affect our future. I also realized that even if we are not interested in politics, the decisions being made can still affect us. After watching the presentations, I feel like I have a better understanding of why it is important to stay informed and pay attention to what is happening around us.