Make me believe it

Elections are nearing, and my vote is still open for grabs. I can’t decide on which candidate to vote for. My uncertainty is the result of my ignorance. But now, I am listening. I don’t want to hear candidates simply promising tax cuts here and extra funding there. I am interested in knowing how these promises will benefit my future.

In Joel Osteens’ Your Best Life Now, he writes that you must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it. I can’t expect great things to come my way unless I believe it’s possible. Therefore, I have to believe that I have a promising future before I can live one. If you can make me believe that I have a promising future back home, then you can believe you have my vote. I want to believe that after I receive my diploma, I can go back home and expect to find a decent career. I want to believe that there will be many great career opportunities available for me. I want to find a career that will challenge and enhance my learned skills with advanced technology and proper working facilities. Moreover, I want to believe that I could earn a decent living by finding a job with a fair salary. I want to reap the financial benefits of years of hard earned education and study. If you make me believe that I will find a great and prosperous career back home, then you can believe you have my vote.

I want to believe that my children will greatly benefit from public education. I want to believe that they will be provided with nothing less than excellent schooling. I want their skills and motivation to strive above their potential to be challenged and encouraged. Furthermore, I want to believe my children will be guaranteed great government funding for higher education. I want them to worry more about the results of their final exams, and less about the costs of their tuitions. If you make me believe that my children won’t be subjected to mediocre public education, and will be encouraged to pursue a higher education by government funding, then you can believe you have my vote. I want to believe that my children won’t be victims of corruption. I want to believe that they will be protected against crime anywhere back home. I don’t want them to have the opportunity to be influenced or threatened by harmful drugs or violence. I don’t want their hopes and dreams to be debilitated or destroyed by these negative influences. If you make me believe that my children will have a safe and secure future back home, then you can believe you have my vote. I want to believe that my children wont have to be persuaded to return home, when they too receive their diploma. I want to believe that they too will have a promising future. I want them to find a decent job that will challenge and financially reward their years of hard earned education and study.

Moreover, I want to believe that their children will also live a promising future, with excellent public education and great financial assistance for higher education. I want their children to worry more about the results of their final exams, and less about the cost of their tuitions. Also, I want to believe that their children won’t be influenced or harmed by corruption. I want them to be safe anywhere back home. If you make me believe that I and all the generations after me will have a promising future back home, then you can believe you have my vote.

I agree with Joel Osteen when he wrote about first believing before you start receiving. So, I challenge the candidates to convince me and everyone who’s listening that they are the best contenders who will lead us into a hopeful future. I encourage the candidates to open up our hopes for a better tomorrow, and instill in us some faith for a greater destiny. I’m not looking for a candidate who will promise more of the same. I’m looking for a candidate who will envision progress and success. I’m merely asking these candidates to do a simple task of making me believe I can live a bright future back home. If you make me believe that you are that leader, then you can believe that you will definitely and wholeheartedly have my vote.

Vinalynn Duenas
Powder Springs, Georgia