Teens need to stop choosing their political beliefs just because of what their parents believe. They must get their own opinions and learn to back them up.

Young adults are caught in a political world where everyone’s views and opinions are right in their face.

Not knowing a lot about how the government actually works, young adults look to the people who are most trusted and respected in their eyes.

When going to school, kids hear other people talking about their political views and opinions. Many teens don’t understand politics but still believe that they are a part of a certain political party based off of what was heard at home or school.

Parents or teachers don’t always force opinions, but when kids don’t know much about a certain subject, they strive for an answer and often cling to what they have heard.

When the voting season approaches, signs are often put up in yards to show the party that a certain person is voting for. Some households put out signs, and that allows people to see what political party their parents are voting for as well as friends’ families. When developing their political ideals, students need to be careful not to view the government or choose political parties based on adults.

There are many ways to decide to choose whether to identify as a Republican, Democrat or Independent party. Students should research all parties and see the pros and cons of each.

Online, there are surveys such as Pew Research Center that can help students find out which party they agree with most.

It doesn’t hurt to talk to adults about the different parties or their opinion on the parties, but this information can often be biased. Watching unbiased TV and learning about what they both can offer and what makes them each special is another way to find the party that fits their beliefs.

When voting, young adults should not make decisions based on who has the same political views and opinions as their parents, and instead, vote for the one who shows more knowledge and whose opinions and goals match their own.