In the recent referendum on Scottish independence from England, Scottish citizens, including people our age, were allowed to cast a ballot that would impact their lives for generations.

What if teenagers had the opportunity to vote in elections? This vote was one that had massive implications on both a national and world scale, and undoubtedly shaped their and their children’s future.

So, York, if you’re wondering–16 and 17 year-olds voted to decide on whether or not Scotland would separate from the British monarchy and become independent. Hundreds of thousands of young adults threw aside whatever apathy they had and did two things: decide the future of their country, and exercise one of the most basic human rights.

What they did for themselves is exercise their right to choose, their right to remain politically efficate, their right to decide their future, and their right to participate in politics and history. And York, if you have the opportunity, please do the same thing.

I had an opportunity. Working for a state senate campaign during this election cycle was an unbelievable experience. Politics might be a glass full of nasty talk on the surface, but once I started interning, I received some of the greatest opportunity and experience that I had not even thought about while looking for work. In addition to that, I networked with others, got plenty of service hours, and had the time of my life. They might not pay well or at all, but internships are great preparation for the future.

I made a difference without casting a ballot. That’s one way to–but simply casting a ballot and deciding the future is the easiest way to participate and unarguably the biggest.

If you don’t, there’s nobody to blame but yourself. It’s hard to take people’s complaining if they had the opportunity to vote and make a difference, but chose not to.

Young people are the forefront of difference makers in the world. Revolutions that took place in 2011 in Egypt and other places around the world were led by people not much older than us. The protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989 were led by students at universities, many of whom ended up giving the ultimate sacrifice in the name of democracy and freedom.

These people, many of whom were just like you, made a difference. Egypt is trying to become democratic. The protests in 1989 resulted in a massive relaxation of Cold War era policies. Although these are two of the most extreme examples, they prove that young people are at the forefront of change, if they put their mind to it.

So York, put your mind to it. Cast a ballot. Volunteer. Make a difference.