Recalling My First Vote: Nichelle Stephens

Nichelle is a member of the New York City Incubator.

Voting is rite of passage for every eighteen year old in America that is often neglected. You may remember your first kiss or first car,  but your first vote may not be very memorable. Voting is something I could never take for granted because of my parents. My parents marched the streets of Birmingham, Alabama when they were teenagers.  They told me that voting is important because it is one way to voice your concerns over the government.   My parents also taught me that voting is power and there's no reason to not vote. I remember being excited to be able to vote in November 1992. It was my first chance to vote for the President of the United States. I felt like such an adult walking into the elementary school which was my district's polling place to cast my ballot. My name was listed on the voting registrar and I signed my name right next to it. The election day volunteer handed me a ballot and directed me to the voting booth which resembled a dressing room in an old-fashioned department store with a heavy curtain.  I walked in, took a deep a breath and voted.
As I returned my completed ballot, a volunteer gave me a sticker that said, "I voted today". I felt so proud!