Hooray!!! The semester is over.
But deep down, you know you miss the intellectual political conversations with friends from campus and are yearning to still be politically engaged. Here are three ways to hone in your political philosophy and become a conservatarian superstar while away from your college on summer vacation.
1. Don’t allow that free time to go to waste, educate yourself!
The summer is prime time to get up to date on all political happenings. While relaxing and working on your tan by the pool, bring a copy of The Libertarian Reader with you or read the trending news stories of the day on your iPad.
On that same note, stay “social.” Social networking sites, like Twitter, often give readers access to news information that is not covered by the mainstream media. And many times, twitter users get access to breaking news faster than news outlets.
If you’re not much of a reader, attend educational seminars like The Leadership Institute’s Youth Leadership School, the Institute For Humane Studies Summer Seminars, or Turning Point USA’s leadership conferences. Not only will you walk away with so much intriguing information, you will also make some the best friends of your life at these events.
Other great resources for those unable to travel are sites such as Liberty.me or Learn Liberty. These sites are filled with videos and articles on anything you’d like to learn about with regards to liberty.
2. Be a part of something bigger than yourself, volunteer!
This is the perfect summer to get involved with your local political party.
Local, state, and national races are a mere few months away from the general election and they are eager for young, enthusiastic college students to volunteer. Not only will it be impactful to the campaign you volunteer with, but it will make you a more marketable candidate for jobs in the future.
If political parties aren’t your cup of tea, volunteer with organizations that advocate for issues you align with.
Look for national or local organizations in your state, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Americans For Prosperity (AFP), the National Right To Life (NRLC), or The National Rifle Association (NRA). Getting involved with grassroots activism in your area gives you an inside look at how to make things happen in your community.
3. Take all you’ve learned and engage with your friends and family.
With all the knowledge you’ve acquired while away at college, and the passion you feel towards the issues, it’s time to engage with family and friends on these topics.
One of the more challenging aspect of politics is talking to people about our ideas who maybe haven’t heard of them before, or are downright against our ideas.
Taking yourself away from the comfort bubble of your conservative or libertarian student group circle and discussing our ideas with friends and family can be challenging. But this is a friendly and safe opportunity to test out what you know.
Listen to what your friends and family say during these conversations. Do not get distraught if you find yourself pigeon-holed in a conversation with your elders on an issue that feels out of your grasp.
Remember to always stay calm and to communicate the context from which you’re speaking. If you can begin to hold your own on these conversations, it’s a brilliant start. You’re well on your way to becoming a superstar conservatarian!
