Girls Write Now mentee Ayah Al-Masyabi recently had an opinion piece about voting published in The Colorado Sun
October 23, 2024 – Aurora, CO
Girls Write Now mentee Ayah Al-Masyabi recently had an opinion piece published in The Colorado Sun, “Opinion: As a first-time voter, I feel empowered knowing I can make a difference in Colorado and the country.”
In the article, Al-Masyabi describes her ever-evolving relationship with voting and politics, and how she is a firm believer in the power each young person has to shape the country. Regarding her introduction to engaging with politics, Al-Masyabi says, “For as long as I can remember, it has been a family tradition to sit over steaming hot food at the dinner table and hear my parents and siblings — and when I got older, even me — debate and discuss what was happening in the world.” She explains that even when there were heated disagreements among those at the table, that was part of another important lesson she learned: “that passion was a good thing, especially in politics.”
On November 5, former president Barack Obama retweeted the piece!
Day after day at the dinner table, I would gather little bits of information that would help me realize what was most important to me as an American, a Muslim, a woman and a human… I know that when I vote, even if the outcome is not what I want, I make the decision to let my voice be heard and that is what voting is all about.
-Ayah Al-Masyabi, mentee
Al-Masyabi also read aloud her piece at our National Voter Registration Day event last month. Watch her performance below!