These Are The Rules I Will Live By

By Modar Kaddar

“I just want to see real quick:  if you’re 18 years old, raise your hand. If you’re going to be 18 years old by November 5th raise your hand, and everyone else who had your hand up, keep it up,” said Commissioner Seth Bluestein.

I felt included, and how could I not? I was at Vote That Jawn’s TrendThatJawn event, which I had organised with my friends and Professor Lorene Cary. We were standing in a big room in Philadelphia’s City Hall, portraits of past Philly mayors hanging on the walls. In the corner the Drexel Jazztets was playing some calming music, allowing the attendees to talk and exchange opinions. We invited youth activists, journalists, and young writers from all over Philly to join us to tell stories about their first votes and the change they led in their schools. We also invited the commissioners who walked us through the voting process and how important it is to vote.

“Every single person in the room who raised their hand can get involved as a poll worker or register to vote right now to participate in the upcoming election,” said Commissioner Bluestein, bringing me back from that happy daydream to the reality that, as an international student from Syria, I am not able to vote because I am. The irony is that I spent the whole semester encouraging people to vote while my voice will stay unheard. I have no say in the decisions that will shape my life here in the US for the next four years.

It’s been frustrating but, at the same time, inspiring... I may not have a vote, but I do have a voice, and I intend to use it. Encouraging others to engage in the democratic process became my way of contributing, even if indirectly, to US democracy. For every person I convinced to register or to show up at the polls, I felt like I was speaking up for those of us left out. 

I kept encouraging my classmates and friends to participate. Whether in classes, by text, or by talking to random people on Locust Walk, I reached out to everyone I could, encouraging them to get to the polls. I dedicated myself to raising awareness about the importance of voting. Each person who promised to vote felt like a small step towards the ultimate goal- one where I wasn’t just a spectator, but an active member for change. 

So, please, vote responsibly for all of us who cannot.

Modar Kaddar, an international student from Syria. Despite studying pre-med with a double major in STEM, he is so interested in making a difference through community work and social/political activism.