White picket fences, food on the table, a flag larger than the house flying in the front yard. This is The American Dream, one of the most unachievable ideas. As primary elections inch closer and closer, it’s important to remember why we vote. Due to SNAP benefits being paused, millions of Americans will have no food to put on the table this Thanksgiving. As the cost-of-living increases and incomes stay the same, millions of Americans have begun living paycheck to paycheck. A shared backyard is seen as a luxury, an excuse, a reason as to why the rent on a one-bedroom apartment has nearly doubled in price. Take a moment to consider the weight of these words, a moment to think of the children who won’t get any presents this Christmas as the numbers on price tags only get bigger, a moment to look at who will be on your ballot next fall. As college students, often we are ignorant of what is happening outside of our campus. That can change. Download a news app and allow notifications. Turn reading the news into a habit. Close out of Instagram and TikTok and instead, look at the bigger picture. Primary elections have a 20% average voter turnout rate, and with numbers like that, our elected officials cannot be expected to accurately represent the people. Make voting an outing; wear your “I Voted” sticker with pride and encourage your friends to do the same. To be a U.S citizen is to do more than vote every four years. It is to vote whenever you can, to speak up when an elected official doesn’t have your best interest in mind, to pay attention to the things that might not directly affect you. A democracy is only as strong as its people are informed, so stay informed. As many of us enjoy our turkey and assorted casseroles later this month, take a pause and ask yourself what it means to you to be a U.S citizen.