Being a columnist for the Alligator was one of the best experiences I could have asked for. It has brought me an unprecedented amount of joy for the past three semesters. I have enjoyed writing every article, forming every sentence and being the most opinionated person in my circle of friends (it comes with the column territory).
And just because my picture (circa-2013) will no longer grace the opinions section, that does not mean I will keep my opinions to myself.
For my final piece I have decided to end with some final political thoughts: First and foremost, to all of the students at UF, realize we are the future of this state, country and world. We will one day be the CEOs/professors/politicians/whatever of the future. We will have the ability to shape future events as we see fit. This responsibility should not be taken lightly and should not be shrugged off.
Second, be skeptical. If someone is promising something that is too good to be true, it probably is. Though this may seem commonsensical, every time an election is in full swing people will believe anything that a person on a stump will say. Developing an opinion often comes from thinking differently from the mass consensus and those in power.
And last, don’t be content with voting for the "lesser of two evils." Voting for an unsavory candidate for the sake of voting will not benefit anyone. It seems a little odd for a columnist who talked so much about politics to be OK with a person not voting.
I like to equate the situation like this: If you go to the store to get an apple, and the two apples that are available to you are not acceptable, you shouldn’t be expected to choose one apple over the other. However, this doesn’t mean that you become politically disenfranchised. On the contrary, this means that you have to find other legal ways to make your voice heard. Running for office, lobbying or creating a think tank can lead to positive changes.
I know that this might seem like an odd grab bag of fortune-cookie advice and personal musings. Well, it is. But one thing to take away from all of this is to have an opinion, back it up and fight for it. The future is counting on it.
[Michael Beato is a UF economics junior. His column appears on Tuesdays. A version of this column ran on pages 7 on 8/5/2014 under the headline "Be skeptical, be opinionated"]
