My name is Clare, I am 22 years old, and I don’t know as much about politics as I think I should. I’m sure that everyone and their 80-year-old grandma is aware that it’s an election year, and I’m sure everyone has a few political opinions that they hold dear – be it gay marriage, foreign policy – about any other issue under the sun. Someone is willing to get into a shouting match over. Although I’m not exactly a political science major, I do get some of the basics, but I know that I should know more about this whole political thing than what I get watching “The Daily Show,” looking at my Yahoo News Feed or what’s trending on Twitter.

On campus, I have always been a huge advocate for getting involved. Why complain about how things are when you could fix them? So now, I am going to try to become more knowledgeable about politics. And here are five reasons I think others should consider doing the same.

5. It’s a better use of your time than watching Jersey Shore. Of course, so is getting eaten by rabid squirrels but still.

4. When someone with a clipboard and a bunch of pamphlets runs up to you and asks you if you could sign a petition, you can actually make a choice based on what you believe in and the greater implications of your signature. Not just pretending to be on your phone so they don’t talk to you, or signing it without reading because you’re late to class.

3. When people start talking politics at parties or at a bar, you can actually participate, not just make a few awkward comments about Regan before running off to hide in the bathroom until the subject is changed.

2. You can, once and for all, use a fully logic based argument, filled with data and facts and names and dates, to finally convince the guy in the back of your sociology class that the hypothetical legalization of marijuana has nothing to do with Hitler.

1. In a lot of places, for a lot of people, you don’t get to go out and learn about what politicians stand for and how and why. You’re just told things, and you have to accept it. It just seems like we should take this for granted. We are going to have to run this place eventually, might as well start studying now. Besides, tonight’s episode of Jersey Shore is a re-run.