Letter: To want change, I need to be the change

Former+Rep.+Beto+O%E2%80%99Rourke%2C+D-Texas%2C+visits+Iowa+State+on+Wednesday+night+at+the+M-shop.+He+is+also+one+of+the+presidential+candidates+for+the+year+of+2020.+After%C2%A0O%E2%80%99Rourkes+speech+in+the+M-shop%2C+he+did+a+quick+media+session.

Mia Wang/Iowa State Daily

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, visits Iowa State on Wednesday night at the M-shop. He is also one of the presidential candidates for the year of 2020. After O’Rourke’s speech in the M-shop, he did a quick media session.

Victoria Palma

I can no longer be a bystander to the issues of this country. It’s not good enough to want change, I need to be the change.

Since the 2016 election, my world has been turned upside down. A lot of people that I’ve talked to say “it’s too early to know who I support” for the upcoming election.

Personally, I am proud to say that I support Beto O’Rourke because I know that he will represent me and what I believe in. 

I was born and raised in Iowa and am the proud daughter of two immigrants. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about our current immigration system because of how broken it is.

In June, when the photo of a young girl and her father lying lifeless in the Rio Grande surfaced, I got my wake up call. For some, the photo was just a tragic photo of two immigrants. But for me, I saw a life that could have been mine. 

I support Beto O’Rourke because he cares and fights for immigrants. I always tell myself that I need to be the person I needed when I was younger. I’m the first in my family to go to college. I openly talk about immigration, sexual assault and gun control. And even though I am trying to do everything I can to advocate for change, I believe Beto can make it happen when he is president.

I’m ready for better days. Actually, I’m ready for Beto days.