This past October, I had the privilege of attending the 2023 Pennsylvania Student Voting Summit, which was held at the Penn State HUB-Robeson Center. This summit provided me with a remarkable opportunity to listen to a diverse group of faculty members, administrators, and non-profit organizations who spoke on the essential role of college students voting and civic engagement.
I must admit that before attending this summit, I was not fully aware of my civic responsibilities as a college student. However, the knowledge gained from the summit has equipped me with a better understanding of my civic duties and has motivated me to become more involved in the democratic process. As a matter of fact, right after the summit, I was able to register to vote at a table outside of the hall where the event was hosted.
Furthermore, the discussions and presentations during the summit were insightful, engaging, and thought-provoking. I was particularly fascinated by the speech given by Ezra Nanes, the mayor of State College Borough. What caught my attention was the way he talked about his vision for the town. As the mayor since 2022, he expressed a strong desire to make this town a welcoming and inclusive community for everyone. I was impressed by his passion for creating a space that is safe for all, regardless of their background or beliefs. I also liked his ideas for improving pedestrian and bike infrastructure safety. His vision for bike-friendly streets and walkable communities is very exciting, as this is something I look for as a college student.
What really made an impact on me was his charismatic leadership style, which was evident in the way he spoke and engaged with the audience. His public speaking skills were great, and his ability to connect with the audience was nice. It felt like he genuinely wanted to know everyone in the room and make a personable connection to each person. Overall, his speaking skills helped to encourage me and my fellow peers to become more involved and aware of our civic responsibilities as young adults.
Overall, the summit was a fantastic experience, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from such knowledgeable and inspiring speakers. I also got some really cute “Voting is Cool” pins and stickers. Oh, and the food was pretty good too. My favorite part of the meal was the mac-and-cheese and the chocolate ice cream from the Berkey Creamery (not that the food or pins were the most important part of the event, I just thought it was worth mentioning).
