A Student Perspective: Volunteering for Steve Stuban's Campaign

I've always been interested in politics, only as a spectator. I find it hard to understand all the gabble about specific policies and laws. Being a senior in high school, I have to take a course on government. Our first quarter project is to volunteer for a political campaign for five hours and then write a paper.

I knew that my volunteering would not be just an assignment, I wanted to make it personal. I chose to volunteer for Steve Stuban, who is running for School Board At-Large. In April 2011 I wrote an in-depth article on the Fairfax County "Zero Tolerance Policy" (ZTP). I interviewed two families that had been deeply affected by ZTP, the Russell family and the Anderson family. Hayley Russell was suspended for bringing prescription acne medicine for Rachel Carson Middle School. Joshua Anderson was suspended for having marijuana at school and a second offense where he was to have a hearing that would most likely expel Joshua from all Fairfax County Public Schools. Joshua chose to commit suicide the day before his hearing.

Another case closer to home where a student fell in trouble with the ZTP was Nick Stuban, a junior at Woodson High School at the time. I did not know Nick, but had seen him in the hallways. I was so surprised to hear in January that he had taken his life after falling in trouble for buying synthetic marijuana on school grounds. After Nick committed suicide, the Woodson community took time to mourn his loss as well as decide to try to make a change to the ZTP for Fairfax County Public Schools.

When I heard that Mr. Stuban was running for the School Board, I immediately knew that I wanted to help his campaign, whether or not it was an assignment for government. I felt personally affected by the suicides due to this policy and want to help change this policy. After contacting Mr. Stuban via his campaign website, I planned to meet him at a volunteer meeting he was holding at his house. There, I learned about his plans for his campaign, and how to help. I signed up for two back to school night events, where I could hand out palm cards with Mr. Stuban's initiatives.

My first back to school night event was at Olde Creek Elementary School. A friend and I stood on a corner near the parking lot. In addition to handing out palm cards, we handed out water bottles (to those who wanted one) with "Steve Stuban - Every Student Matters" labels on them. We handed out 40+ water bottles and double as many palm cards.

The second back to school night I volunteered at was the Woodson High School event. Many of the candidates for numerous positions were there handing out paraphernalia for their own campaigns. Again, lots of water bottles and palm cards were handed out to those who were interested.I learned how hard it can be to hand out cards to people who are more than often unfriendly, and go the long way around the parking lot just to avoid us volunteers. I now take that into consideration when people at the mall kiosks try to hand me a sample; I graciously say "No thank you."

While volunteering for Mr. Stuban's campaign showed me that running for an office is not just politics, you have to gain support from the community in order to be successful. Mr. Stuban is running as an independent, he is not backed by democrats or republicans. And yet, so many people immediately ask what political party he is running with. The School Board is not party politics, yet it seems to be influenced by it anyway.

In developing my political opinion, I always looked up to my parents. I was raised in a fairly democratic environment, because that is the party my family affiliates itself with. I became a democrat, but took my own opinion on topics such as gay marriage and abortion. Even if I was a different party than my parents, I know they would still respect my opinions because they want me to be my own person. Volunteering for Mr. Stuban's campaign was the first step in my life long process, to truly form my own political opinions.

I can't vote this year, because I don't turn 18 until Dec. 30, but I'm looking forward to voting in the 2012 Presidential Election.