Wow, the 2004 election... that really takes me back! The first major election I was eligible to vote in was the now-infamous Bush/Gore election in 2000, and I remember having a lot of anxiety going into this 2004 election thanks to all the craziness that happened in 2000.

I really like the background you provided in this piece; your political inclinations and backstory were really clear and helped the reader get a sense of what you intend to bring into the future conversation about the current year's election. I like the fact that you have a blend of both interest and practical experience; that really helps establish you as an informed voice on the subject matter you'll be discussing.

I don't have any particular suggestions for improvement with respect to this piece in particular; it was written at a certain point in time and - at that time - it was everything it needed to be. However, given what's transpired in American politics since the 2004 election (which includes quite a lot of firsts!), I would be very interested to read an updated piece that includes, as part of the background, your thoughts and experience since 2004, particularly with the historic nature of both Obama's and Trump's respective elections, and how much the political landscape has changed in the past 20 years. I'd love to know more about how you've grown, changed, and come to think of politics in the intervening years. Again, that's not a criticism of this piece in particular, but more a commentary on how I'd love to see this piece develop if you're ever so inclined to expand upon it.

Overall, I think you did a great job with this piece. I loved reading it and getting to know a little bit more about your political views and the way you think about civics in our country. Well done!