I’ve had the privilege of serving as a delegate to the Indiana Democratic Party State Convention in 2020, 2022, and 2024. Each experience has been energizing and inspiring. In a state like Indiana, there’s something powerful about being in a room with more than 2,000 dedicated, passionate Democrats from every corner of the state. It’s a welcome reminder that we are not alone in our shared values and in our commitment to building a better Indiana.

For years, I did it wrong. Every election cycle, I'd launch into my passionate speech about civic duty, the importance of participation, and how their generation could change everything. I'd forward celebrity memes and Instagram stories designed to inspire, then remind them about registration deadlines with increasingly urgent texts. I thought if I could just make them care enough, they'd show up at the polls.