Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2009, Page 140

Description:	An ElectionFreshman Colin Diersing PutsEverything into the CampaignI could either be watching it or shaping it, said freshman Colin Diersing of the 2008 presidential election. Looking back on this election, most wouldremember their support for Barack Obama, John McCain, or Ron Paul. But Diersing remembered shaping it; he called voters, recruited volunteers, and wentdoor to (sometimes unfriendly) door for Senator Obama.He started out entering data and making calls beforethe primary. I cared about the results, policies that wouldchange. [The campaign] appealed to the better versionsof people, Diersing said. When headquarters re-openedin the summer for the general election, he interned 30hours per week. He still interned daily when school started but cut down to 20 hours. He also started Studentsfor Barack Obama at Bloomington South with juniorNicholas Buf fie. The clubs first act on the campaigntrail was to work phone banks at campaign headquarters.Although many students said they supported one ofthe candidates, it didnt always translate into action.But Diersing was usually busy on a phone recruiting students for the campaign. Diersing said the most frustrating excuse for not being able to volunteer was I havehomework, or I dont have time. Everyone who volunteered there, even if it was just for an hour, was puttingtheir fife on hold. People put aside their lives to do this.The campaign became Diersings life. If people got alittle frazzled, thats okay. It paid off, Diersing said smiling, We won by only a couple thousand votes and it camedown to people all across Indiana knocking on doors andmaking calls so I dont regret bothering some people, hesaid. The Indiana win impacted him more than the national win, Every now and then it just sinks in: we did it.During the lame duck period, we wondered what wouldhappen. People campaign in poetry and govern in prose.Good things have already happened, but well always bepushing for more. Blindly trusting a leader can be dangerous.With such intense interest in politics at a young age,Diersings political and general perspectives changed. Immore cynical about some things now, and Im more result oriented. He started as just volunteering, and foundit was voting 1000 times over, and found a passion forpolitics. To be honest, I cant see not [working on the2012 campaign], but this is the biggest election I think wellever five through. —STORY BY MARGARET MCGILLIVRAYto Remembersenior. Megan V\
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/8162
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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