Give Thanks For: Giving Back

My political experience started last spring with an idea. The idea was to start an organization comprised of young people who would be willing to get into Democratic politics in Denton County in a way that only young people can. At first this seemed like an impossible task, as there weren't many people I knew so wholeheartedly devoted to the political experience and I had never been part of building and maintaining an organization. However, as our task unfolded the true meaning and impact of what was happening began to dawn on me.

Through the Denton County Young Democrats I have experienced a connectedness to my community and the town of Denton, to which I have belonged all of my life, that I did not previously know was possible. The small core of people that I work with has been able to achieve amazing feats in organizing Democrats and involve so many people my age in the process. But more than that, it is the outreach that we continually take part in that gives me the most satisfaction.

As much as I have heard the sentiment that community outreach counts for very little in getting someone elected from seasoned political veterans, I am still not discouraged. Not only do I disagree, I find that this is not the point of these activities. Our community outreach connects us to the world we directly live in. By doing what we can to improve this world, we simultaneously gain an intimate connection with the lifeblood of the community and the selfless people who help improve it every day. When I clean up our adopted stretch of University Drive I become one of those selfless people.

Furthermore, the organization I belong to, the Denton County Young Democrats, is recognized as a group of people with a vested interest in helping out in any way possible. This, in turn, forces the hardened Republicans and diehard Democrats alike to acknowledge that the people standing outside Walmart collecting school supplies for needy children have the interests of the community at heart.

For me, this extends into my politics. Getting Democrats elected to office is a difficult but rewarding challenge that I relish and something that I hope to continue to do. In the meantime, I gain the most satisfaction when I am able to do my small part as a Democrat and as a citizen by returning the favor and helping out the community that has meant so much to me all of my life.