2025 is a stressful year to be a high school student. It’s difficult enough for teens to manage their own life: from schoolwork, to jobs, to planning for the future— it can all be overwhelming. With political tension at an all-time high/or increasing rapidly, life can feel stressful, leaving students uncertain about what the future holds.

To try and make life a little easier, here are some ways to navigate the political climate.

Read/Watch the News (From Reliable Sources!)

It might seem scary, but one of the best ways to stay informed is to regularly check the news, but make sure it’s from reliable sources in order to avoid misinformation.

Student government secretary Nubah shared suggestions on where to find trustworthy information.

“Any reliable source, I feel like that’s the best place to go,” Nubah said. “What I have done is I’m subscribed to our governor’s website … sign up for notifications and things like that, they will send you regular updates. Or just like, following the website of the White House, Congress and things like that. Like, it’s really simple to just get real reliable information.”

One way to go above and beyond in news-sourcing is by reading or researching political viewpoints with different alignments and perspectives. Not only does this expand our knowledge of opposing ideas, but it also teaches us to be more empathetic of others and learn how to compromise.

Nubah echoed this sentiment. “I’m a Democrat myself, but I know a lot of the Republican side and their policies and what they agree with and disagree with … Do I disagree with everything that they have to say? No. There’s actually a lot of things that I’m like, ‘Wait, I agree with you on that,’ but there’s also a boatload of things that I don’t agree with,” Nubah said.

Get Off Social Media

It can be tempting to find news on social media, but users would likely find themselves in an echo chamber. Due to the algorithms of social media, feeds will only show things users regularly interact with, which are likely their viewpoints already. Find other ways to consume information, like watching a television program, listening to a podcast or reading a newspaper or article. It may take extra time, but the quality of information is much more important than the quantity.

Discuss with Others

Engaging in political discussion is another way to feel more comfortable in the political world. Talking about what we see and hear not only presents ideas to others, but also allows us to hear what other people have to say as well. Ask questions, and don’t be afraid to disagree with someone on an issue. Don’t be afraid to adopt a unique stance on an issue, maybe once that’s already created or something new.

“You should be able to talk to your peers,” US History teacher Brian Smith said. “So it’s like teachers talking to other teachers, students talking to other students, you know? Because that’s what is sometimes missing, or it’s just like the online stuff, that there’s no meaning or depth…So talking in person with fellow students…that’s a great idea.”

There’s also value in discussing politics with people with differing viewpoints.

“I have one class right now that I’m pretty sure they’re all in agreement [politically],” World History teacher Justine Kononov said. “So it’s really hard to sometimes provide that opposite perspective, or if you do have that opposite perspective, feeling comfortable when you’re sitting in a classroom full of the opposite, creating a space.”

Prepare to Vote

With many seniors already 18 or quickly approaching 18, voting is on the horizon. Young voters can make a difference not only in their community, but in their state and even country by voting in local, state and national elections.

While the presidential election of 2024 ended, local and state-level elections happen every year, giving voters a chance to make their voice heard. For example, school board elections are this year and four seats at SCASD are up for grabs.

“Just making sure, like, you know what’s going on around in your town, in your community, first of all, and then that’s gonna give you avenues to kind of branch out to the federal government on a national scale. That’s one way you can be involved,” Nubah said.

You must be 18 years old and a U.S. citizen to vote. You can register to vote in person at the Centre County Elections office in Bellefonte, PennDOT, and a number of other government agencies. You can also register by mail or online by scanning the QR code below.

Be Mindful of Political Consumption

Some news topics that are out there can be heavy, so be careful not to expose ourselves to too many sensitive topics. Engaging in too much political jargon may lead to increased levels of stress or anxiety, which can have adverse effects on mental health.

“At the end of the day, of course you can have a good impact, but you’re a teenager in high school— it can become a lot, and you can take a break, and it’s okay, like if you see other people being so engaged. Don’t have that expectation for yourself, that I need to be just as engaged because people handle things differently,” Nubah said.

Engage in Protests, Rallies and Campaigns

To help stay engaged in politics, protests, rallies and campaigns are an effective way to get involved. Throughout the year, protests happen all around the nation on all sorts of topics and platforms. Even in State College, protests and rallies pop up all of the time, allowing us to speak our mind with peers. We might not be able to control everything that happens in politics, but we can control our actions and use our rights to voice our opinions.

Going to campaigns for politicians is another great way to get informed on a candidate and meet new people interested in politics. You can find information on campaigns by going to a politician’s website.

Accept Change and Uncertainty

The political world is ever-changing and dynamic; what happens one day may be completely different the next. While that sounds scary, use it as an opportunity to be resilient and accepting of change. Changes that may seem uncertain at first could actually end up being positive for our nation, and even if they aren’t, we can use them as opportunities to find out what works for us and what doesn’t.

Kononov gave one last piece of advice for students.

“Just acknowledging, too, that you know if you’re feeling a certain way, and everybody has different reactions to different events, maybe just not judging other people from maybe how they react, right? Because everybody you know has different experiences, different maybe traumas … different outlooks,” Kononov said.

While the political world may be overwhelming, embrace it as a new opportunity to learn more about our world—the good things and the bad things. And don’t forget that our voices matters and it deserves to be heard, no matter what you hear from anyone else. We may disagree on some issues, politicians, or policies, but working together is the greatest strength of our democracy.