Students register to vote at Pasadena High School.

Pasadena High School Voter Registration and Membership Drive

Franklin Roosevelt once said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” After spending a lunch hour at Pasadena High School assisting our newest members—Amelia Monsour, Destiny Bowman, and Reyna Gonzalez—I concluded that if they are representative of our youth, then our future is in good hands.

The campaign to register voters and attract new members to the League was conceived, organized, and run entirely by our student members. They partnered with the school’s Future Voters of Pasadena Club and acquired support from the school to make announcements over the school PA system.

Neither blistering hot temperatures nor encroachments on lunchtime deterred the flood of students as they clamored to get information on how to register and learn about the League. LWV-PA volunteers Vicki Thompson, Kim Cubero, Monica Kelly, and Debbie Fagen were on hand to assist, but the value of peer interaction and persuasion was the true catalyst for the event’s success.

It was impressive and inspiring to see the passion and purpose of those students stopping by to register or gather information. The questions were thoughtful, exhibiting the students’ knowledge of the election cycles, local versus state and federal representatives, and appointed positions. I highly recommend volunteering for future events involving youth if you’re looking for a fun, productive way to advance the League’s mission—or just need a boost of hope!

—Debbie Fagen