When most Americans think of the 2000 Presidential election, they think of Florida and the tiny struggle the Floridians had. Well, for me, that’s where it all began. At the age of 9, I was not at all interested in politics. I was still at the age where I just liked whoever my parents liked, but after my home state was constantly on the news for weeks after the election was over, my interest in the political process was sparked. It wasn’t until September 11, 2001, after my oldest brother had moved to New York to attend the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), that I really wanted to know more about politics and how I could help impact our country.

Although my political interests began to form in 2001, I didn’t start actively participating in political events until the 2004 Presidential election. My mom and I started volunteering at the Lee County Republican headquarters. I don’t think I have ever made so many phone calls in my life. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything important. I am the kind of person who likes to be active and feeling like I am accomplishing something, not sitting in a back room feeling like a telemarketer. I was finally given an opportunity to let out my energy. In early October, Vice President Dick Cheney came to Ft. Myers and I had the chance to go. I thought that was the coolest thing I would ever get to do; little did I know what would happen only a few weeks later.

We soon found out there was a Republican headquarters where I lived and decided to start volunteering there. We met and worked with some amazing people, including Mel Karau, the county Republican Chairman. He is a man who I know will support me in whatever I choose to do, whether it be in politics or not. He is like my dad when it comes to politics. Most adults will try to keep kids off to the side and out of the way, but not Mr. Karau. He saw my enthusiasm and helped me run with it. One of the ways he helped me was by giving my mom and me VVIP tickets to a rally for President Bush. I didn’t really know what to expect. I was just Emily Hunter. I had never been a VVIP (very, very important person) before.

We woke up not so bright but very early that Saturday morning and headed to City of Palms Park in Ft. Myers for the rally, where our VVIP tickets allowed us to either stand in the front or sit on bleachers behind or beside the stage. I chose to stand up front. Finally, after several hours of standing in the bright Florida sun and being entertained by Congressman Mark Foley and a musical performer, the crowd was warned to hold onto their signs and anything else that might fly away. The “Top Gun” theme song began playing, and Marine One appeared over the baseball field. The helicopter landed in center field, and after what seemed like forever, because President Bush was shaking hands and taking pictures with greeters, he stepped up on stage. The crowd went insane! After giving a speech, President Bush and his wife, Laura, came down and shook hands with the lucky few who were up close, and I was one of them. It was a few moments that I will never forget.

After the rally, it was back to the business of campaigning. It was two weeks until Election Day, so activities at the Republican headquarters were hectic, but I always managed to have fun. As the last few days before the election approached, I thought I was going to be a nervous wreck, but I really had a blast! While my brothers, Nick and Casey, and some of their friends were passing out campaign material door to door, another girl and I stood along the side of busy streets holding up campaign signs. On Election Day, after we had done all we possibly could, we went home and prayed. I remember keeping track of the states on paper as I sat by a map and saying, “Kerry has these states, so let’s say he gets two more. Then Bush can just get this one and this one, and we’ll be all right.” I don’t think I slept more than 30 minutes that night, but in the end, all the hard work helped because Bush was re-elected president.

My brother Nick was Regimental Commander at the USMMA and was going to march in the Inaugural parade along with the band, other officers, and part of the regiment. I thought it would be impossible for me to go, but I still kept telling people how badly I wanted to go. I became distracted with Christmas and stopped thinking about it so much, but on Christmas morning I opened up a big box and pulled out a long-sleeved Bush/ Cheney shirt, a Bush/Cheney baseball cap, and papers with flight information to Washington, DC. A close family friend had paid for his wife, my mom, and me to go to Washington for the Inauguration.

We spent four days in Washington, DC. In 2001, I had met Congressman Foley in West Palm Beach when he recognized Nick’s appointment to the USMMA, but I got to meet with him again in his office in Washington. I also got to meet Congresswoman Katherine Harris, who grew up with my dad’s family in central Florida. We visited many places in Washington and attended several Inauguration-related events, including the swearing-in ceremony and the parade.

Since that time, I have continued to be involved in politics and have met several politicians, including Florida’s Democratic candidate for governor, Representative Jim Davis; Republican candidate Charlie Crist; Florida’s Attorney General; Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio; Florida Republican Party Chairperson Carole Jordan; Representative Denise Grimsley; and local elected officials including County Commissioner “Uncle” Bill Maddox, the sheriff, a judge, and the superintendent of schools.

Mr. Karau has encouraged me to form a Teenage Republicans Club, and I worked with him at two local festivals where we had a booth and marched in a parade. I have attended the Florida Republican Party executive meeting, where I volunteered with the “Charlie Crist for Governor” team, and I am looking forward to campaigning this fall.

I also joined Generation Joshua two years ago and hope to work one of their Student Action Teams in the future.

My dad’s grandfather was a Democratic Florida Congressman, and though he died long before I was ever born, politics must be in my genes.

Emily, a homeschooler from birth, is 15 years old and lives in Florida. She is in her tenth-grade studies. Her interests include music and photography. She plans to pursue a degree in strategic intelligence following completion of her high school studies.