Navigating Politics In College

In the polarizing time that we live in, how do you find a stance within the political world?

As a college student, it is easy to get lost in the bubble. The bubble of school, grades, Yikak, sunsets, LinkedIn feed, and work. With everything going on in my bubble, I have found it easy to extract myself from the pressures and politics of society; however with the 2026 Midterms having recently passed, I felt like it was important to educate myself. 

Leading up to these high-stakes Midterms, I felt like there was a political buzz and pressure to vote that has been missing in the past. Granted this was the first “big” election I was able to participate in and use my voice. Nonetheless, I was excited  to vote. If you had told me 5 years ago, even 2 years ago that I was looking forward to voting, I would think that you would have mistaken me for someone else. College, especially UCSB, has given me not just the resources, but also the drive to make my voice heard. 

I would consider UCSB to be a politically active campus, where students have built a community where people feel comfortable to share their opinions and beliefs. But with that, it is easy to get swept up in the excitement of the next biggest political news, losing sight of overarching issues, or even issues from the week prior. 

The polarizing direction that politics has taken in recent years makes it difficult to gauge unbiased and straightforward facts about certain issues or people. News channels such as FOX news, is no longer classified as a news channel, but rather entertainment, and even sources like MSNBC has been criticized for being a leftist-centered outlet. These big companies cater towards like-minded people, as a lot of times information is easiest to comprehend when people feel understood and justified. I have noticed with all of the negativity that can surround the world, it is easiest to intake information that best aligns with your perspective to feel validated and heard, providing at least some sense of comfort. The polarization of our country has made it difficult for any sense of unity and understanding from either side of the political spectrum, which makes it difficult to navigate politics, especially as a college student unfamiliar with all the ins and outs of the real world. 

During this 2026 Midterms season, I turned to my closest, reliable adults, which happened to be my parents, to help me understand the different propositions and positions I was unfamiliar with listed on the ballots. Rather than telling me who and what to vote for, I ended up having a 2 hour conversation with my dad where he explained each item on the ballot. He patiently listened to me question what certain things meant, and why certain organizations supported these people and propositions. After that conversation, I felt like I was able to vote with full confidence, clarity, and make my voice heard. 

I feel extremely lucky to have someone I could turn to, to answer my questions without fear of judgement. I’m not going to lie, for being a student on a politically active campus, I feel like the phrase “fake it till you make it” really applies, as I wanted to fit into the idea of the engaged and educated student. Truthfully, I’m not that girl. Even though admitting that I don’t know is one-hundred percent okay, I have felt pressure in the past to pretend as if I do know; almost as if my knowing is a gauge of my overall intelligence. 

There are other ways to go about finding unbiased sources to gauge political stances, such as getting information from trusted news sources, emphasis of multiple sources. Cross referencing multiple sources can help determine fact from personal opinion. That being said, I know firsthand how busy and overwhelming college can be and adding additional reading, even if it is just news articles can seem like an added chore. Talking to close friends, and those that you share your morals with can also be a helpful resource to have when feeling lost and confused, especially about the complicated political world that we are living in. 

Honestly, there is no perfect solution to finding an unbiased understanding of politics, but there are definitely ways to go about it where one can acquire an opinion that is solely their own. From finding a trustworthy source, to cross referencing articles, to having a genuine conversation with a close friend, you can find out which people and concepts you do and don’t stand with.

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