The goal of the evening was to make calls for voter persuasion across Montgomery County. The message varied from call to call: some people discussed how under the Obama administration the private sector has seen 29 straight months of job creation, while others discussed the work that still needed to be done.

 “I found myself talking about the middle class, sharing the work that the Obama administration has done and will continue to do to ensure a stronger middle class. I felt that that resonated with a lot of people,” said Harriton senior Hannah Barton. Adam Goldstein, another Harriton senior, spoke to us after the event. “It felt good contacting a lot of different people, making those calls felt like you were really making a difference in the community and really helping out the campaign.”

 When calling wrapped up at nine (the campaign can’t legally phone after that time) delicious pizza was brought out as students counted their calls and tallied their success. Emails and other data that Harriton students collected that evening were then organized and entered into the campaign database.

 Although everyone was working hard, filling out sheets for data entry, there was also a celebratory mood in the air and students gathered to watch the closing ceremonies of the Democratic National Convention. Lower Merion President Andrew Pasquier embraced this mood. “Watching Obama’s speech together was both fun and informative as one could see the different reactions his rhetoric evoked. Sitting there in that room together was weirdly moving: a group a young people watching a man, and more importantly the beliefs he holds, on a projection screen with their futures invested in the his vision’s success.”

 Such events – canvasses, phone banks, and voter registrations – occurred all throughout this past summer and engaged many high school students in Montgomery County. Campaign activities for high school volunteers will continue up until the election. Students who are interested in helping out can join the Facebook group “High School Students for Barack Obama: Southeastern Pennsylvania” or simply go to their nearest campaign office. By registering your email on barackobama.com, you can also receive information on events in your area!