By: Team Sherrod

Name: Alexis O.

School: The Ohio State University

Major: World Politics and Spanish

What does college affordability mean to you? To me, it’s the difference between fulfilling my life’s aspirations and being unable to do so. Being able to go to college is the single greatest gift a person my age can receive, both to the individual and to society as a whole. It’s one of the major reasons I fight every day.

What do you see as the biggest issues students face right now? When I answer this question, I think about the biggest political issue I think about when I wake up. The first is college affordability. I know the opportunities I have are a result of the scholarships, grants, and loans I have been given, for which I am thankful. But I also know there are students who can’t afford textbooks, who can’t afford food or rent, who are already behind before they can get ahead, because they are paying a price far above what they can handle. The second is climate change. Everything I know and love about this planet is facing a huge threat, including the people who live within it. Climate change is the biggest challenge facing humanity, a challenge that will require unity and activism far beyond anything the world has ever seen. It’s a daunting prospect. But it can’t wait. We are the generation who has been so vocal about so much, who has tried (and succeeded) in changing so much. This is an issue we can take on as well.

Why are you excited to vote for Sherrod this fall? I support Senator Brown because he is a man who lives out his values. Being in politics should offer a stage to magnify the beliefs and foundations you hold, as well as the people who support you. There are few people in politics who actually do that. Senator Brown actively works for the causes he believes in and the people he represents. He is Ohio.