The approach of Tuesday, March 15’s Missouri Presidential Primary attracted presidential hopefuls including Republican Donald Trump, Republican Ted Cruz, Democrat Bernie Sanders, and Democrat Hillary Clinton to the St. Louis area over the weekend. I was among the umbrella-clutching attendees of Clinton’s March 12 St. Louis rally hosted in the Nelson-Mulligan Carpenters Training Center in Affton.  

Doors opened at 9 a.m., which is around the time my dad and I arrived. After a nearly 30-minute drive to the venue, we got one of the last spots in the parking lot and joined the growing line of people that wrapped around the building. 

The drizzle and chill didn’t stop Clinton supporters from waiting outside for hours to see her. People wore raincoats and most had umbrellas. While in line, we were approached by people gently asking us to sign petitions in support of Planned Parenthood funding and medical marijuana. Everyone who engaged us was very respectful, calm, and obviously passionate about their cause.  

We also saw many Bernie Sanders supporters on either side of the line with signs pointing accusations at Clinton, as well as a smattering of Donald Trump advocates. These proponents were also reserved and polite. Neither group incited any violence or argument.

While waiting in line, my dad and I spoke with the people around us. Everyone was very friendly and open. The young man in front of us was in from Los Angeles; he was originally born in St. Louis but now works as a writer on a sketch comedy show and travels around the country to rallies and primaries (hello, dream job). He engaged in conversation with me and my dad about the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention.

Once we neared the entryway, we had to give up our umbrella, presumably for security reasons. Though we feared it would be lost forever, we did retrieve it at the end of the event. As we passed through the entrance, we went through security, where there were Secret Service members, K9 dogs, and policemen.

After walking through a metal detector and having my purse examined, my dad and  I joined the throngs of people inside the venue. When we entered, we were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. An older woman collecting attendees’ information approached us, and while my dad signed us in, she asked me if this was my first campaign. I proudly replied yes, and that I was excited to be able to vote for the first time. 

In the middle of the large room, there was a podium with a sign that read “Fighting for Us.” The room was already nearing capacity, but we secured a spot not too far from the podium. There were no chairs and the only bathrooms available were Port-a-Potties. In the back of the room, there were people each holding a huge cutout letter to spell “VOTE HILLARY” in red and blue. 

Surrounding us were young girls with their mothers, senior citizens, and college students. Any race or age group I could imagine was present. The atmosphere was upbeat, with fun, loud music, including Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” and Jennifer Lopez’s “Let’s Get Loud,” blasting through the speakers. Every so often, chants of “Hil-a-ry! Hil-a-ry! Hil-a-ry!” broke out from the energetic crowd. After speeches by many state politicians and community representatives, Clinton took the stage to delighted screams and hearty applause. 

Clinton spoke on many issues, including the chaos surrounding the previous day’s Donald Trump rally and the cancellation of his Chicago event. She stated that other candidates were trying to divide the American people. Clinton made a pointed remark at Trump when she claimed that we should focus on breaking down barriers, not building up walls, unless they are the type of walls used to support homes. This comment drew one of the largest reactions of the event, inciting laughter and cheers from the audience, as the event was hosted in a carpenter’s union. The audience was extremely supportive and engaged, sometimes breaking into chants and often waving their Hillary signs in the air. One of my friends actually got to shake hands with Hillary after the rally. 

The experience was unique and exciting for me, as a young person interested in politics. It was amazing to meet so many people interested in the election; simply being around so many people made me feel like I was a part of the Democratic process. 

Even though I won’t be old enough to vote in the primary, as my 18^th birthday is about two months after the primary, I really enjoyed being active in my first election. I am excited to stay involved in politics in the future. I am really looking forward to voting in the general election in November, and seeing one of the debates between the two parties’ frontrunners, which will be hosted at my future college campus. 

And though I wish I could have made it to the other candidates’ events, I know that I will remember the experience that I did have as invigorating. All in all, I’m glad I woke up so early on a Saturday during my Spring Break to be present at such an event.