My participation in politics extends as far as raising my hand in my 8 a.m AP Government class to describe the three branches of government. I have never even been eligible to vote in a single election. So when asked to report on the Get Out the Early Vote rally for Bernie Sanders Feb. 21, I was shocked. To be honest, I was absolutely terrified. 

I have never reported on a political event. I worried I would miss an important quote or photographic moment. I didn’t know what questions to ask and who to ask. I was scared to mess up.  

Driving past Santa Ana high school, 8:30 a.m. on the dashboard, hundreds of people had already begun to form a line around the chain link fence surrounding the school. I couldn’t help but think, what had I gotten myself into?

“Bernie” chants filled the air, and I was immersed in an environment of incredibly diverse people bonded through their political affiliation. Babies held “Bernie” signs while college students missed their Friday classes to attend the event. Kids played in the grass, chanting “Bernie” alongside retired couples. 

Shuffling into the outdoor basketball court, I was greeted by high-fives and fist bumps from strangers who acted as if they knew me. However, I quickly became lost in a sea of hundreds of blue Bernie signs. To accurately report and capture the atmosphere of the rally, I knew my partner and I had to move to a new location. 

Exiting the court, we recognized a stage parallel to a podium filled with an abundance of recording equipment belonging to reporters from the LA Times, NBC and more media outlets. We left with one goal in mind: to get to that stage. 

As two college journalists, fitted in faded jeans and Chapman t-shirts, we began our trek to secure press passes. My Trader Joe’s bag was equipped with my notepad, camera, a bag of goldfish — a college journalist’s essentials. In a career where ageism is rampant, being talked down to because you are young makes your passion even harder to pursue. I was ready to be publicly humiliated, even scoffed at for thinking a “college journalist” could receive the same credentials as reporters from well-known news organizations.  

Handing over my Chapman I.D., I was immediately given a press pass in return. I was shocked. The volunteer saw two young journalists and decided to take a chance on us, something I wasn’t even able to do myself. With access to the press stage, we were given the best view of the podium where Sanders would be appearing. 

A lady soon approached the journalists to direct us to Bernie Sanders’ press conference. You’re kidding. I was about to be within 10 feet of a presidential candidate. Having only seen snippets of conferences on my living room TV, I thought I was dreaming. 

I promise watching a presidential candidate speak live is a thousand times more impactful and educational than through a screen or a snippet of a tweet.

The journalism assignment that I originally dreaded morphed into the highlight of my journalism career. I encourage everyone to attend a political rally, whether you agree with the speaker or not. To develop your political views, you must be able to hear views you agree and disagree with to draw your own conclusions. It’s okay to not know everything about politics, I certainly didn’t. But educate yourself on the candidates. Attend political rallies. Become politically involved. It’s absolutely liberating, and that was something I didn’t learn in my AP Government class.