Abigayle Post, 18, helped push for a law to lower the voting age in Golden to 16 years of age, as well as help write city legislation to ban conversion therapy, the practice of trying to change a person’s sexual orientation from homosexual or bisexual to heterosexual. Abigayle became involved in politics after the election of President Donald Trump, which she said threatened her beliefs in social justice, change and diversity.She plans to remain involved in politics in the future.

If you knew me, you would know ...

“I think it’s important to speak up because it’s important to create the world that you want to live in and to create the spaces that future generations will live in, and so speaking up is so important to make sure that you can live in the best world possible. I think I’m so passionate because it’s exhausting to watch history repeat itself, and watch the same issues come up again and again. And I think it’s important to try and create that change individually so that we can also create it as a society.”

How I want to change the world

“I would love to create a political sphere that is focused on diversity and diversifying the people that we see in office and the policies that are brought to office — not just the type of person they are, but when it comes to health care, gun control and things like that, diversifying the types of beliefs that really get media-megaphoned.”

Why my voice is important

“We have all been lucky enough to be in a country that wants us to exercise our voice and vote on our right to speak to one another. As individuals, the best thing that we can do for our community is to take a stand and talk about what we believe in.

“Just a general rule of thumb, especially to the younger population, is to make sure that you understand when you go into the voting booth how many people have worked for and fought for and died for that right that you have now been given. And that, as a person, the best thing that you can do is make sure that your opinion is heard. You’ll hear a lot of people say, `Oh, vote blue, vote red.’ But vote how you believe in and what you believe and just make sure that you are always doing what you truly believe is best for your country — and then you can’t ever really go wrong.”