Just a Collection of Inside Jokes: DC Problems

          So we've been in DC for what feels like weeks - it's actually only been one week. Time is certainly not going by slowly, we have a ton of work that we're doing so the day actually zooms by. The reason it feels like weeks is that we are so settled here. DC automatically started feeling like home. Our group clicks really well (none of us really knew each other, but we became fast friends) and our apartment came equipped with anything we might need to make it more "homey." As we sat around and decided what we would put into this blog, we kept cracking inside jokes (we have way too many for a group that's only known each other for six days). One example of an inside joke is us using the phrase, "DC Problems." "DC Problem" is a turn of the phrase "First-World Problems" since our biggest problem so far has been securing more plates for our apartment and wi-fi without an ethernet cord. 

          One a more serious note, I was strongly considering the idea that our trip actually was not as important or impacting as the other trips enlisted by the Duke Engage trip. To be honest, we are living a pretty cushy life here in DC. Our apartment is in a great location surrounded by the zoo and some of the best restaurants in the world. We even checked out a restaurant yesterday called We the Pizza that was opened by some Food Network Star (seriously, everyone needs to check it out). 

          While I was considering our trip and its importance, the Rock the Vote report card came out for states and their ability to facilitate youth votes. Then it hit me, what we're doing as interns at Rock the Vote is incredibly important. The only way to make true change in society to benefit an ignored group such as the youth requires true policy changes. Out work at Rock the Vote is providing the steps necessary to ensure those necessary policy changes. The average score for a state was 41%. The youth face so many hurdles when it comes to registering to vote such as out of state I.D. laws and lack of early voting. Currently, the youth are painted as a lazy and apathetic group. The truth is quite the contrary with record numbers of our generation getting out and changing the world through volunteer work. We are making a difference any way that we know how. Now it's time for us to get and assert a voice in the policy world. We need to advocate for better voter registration laws in order to secure our representation. The government passes way too many laws that affect us without our say (see: basically every policy on the docket). We, at Rock the Vote, are going to work hard to change that. If you want to check out how your state did, click here.