The Up and Up goes to Arizona ππ΅: Part 1
Insights from a listening session with students from the Maricopa Community Colleges at Mesa Community College. Hot topics: The cost of living, higher education, and jobs.
I spent the end of last month in Arizona, where I held three listening sessions in three cities: Mesa, Tempe, and Tucson. Arizona is one of the top states that both presidential campaigns are focused on as they map their potential path toward electoral victory.
When it comes to the significance of youth voter turnout, Arizona ranks #3 on the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tuftsβ (CIRCLE)βs list of the top 10 states where young voters are predicted to have the biggest impact on the results of the 2024 presidential election.

More on Tempe and Tucson to come, but today weβll start with Mesa.
Mesa Community College
At Mesa Community College I spoke with a group of seven students from across the Maricopa Community Colleges, including Glendale Community College, Scottsdale Community College, and Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
Of the seven students, five said they are planning to vote in November.
Asked why one of the self-proclaimed non-voters, Xander, doesnβt intend to cast a ballot, he said: βIf I put my name on that ballot and mark the people I want, whatβs going to change?β He cited homelessness and police reform as two issues he cares deeply about, but feels voting wonβt affect. But on the contrary, Luisa, who is planning to vote, said: βI think of one of my teachers, who was like, βIf you donβt vote, then donβt complain.β Obviously we all have certain feels about our candidates, but either way, we should participate.β The issues at the top of her mind are immigration, abortion, housing, and the cost of living, she said.
The Issues
Like in Nevada, much of our conversation centered around the cost of living, jobs, and housing. All of the students are currently working while in school. They described cramming to fit everything into a week, and one student (who asked to remain anonymous) said: βYou canβt explore who you are as a person because all your money is getting spent on things to get yourself by. Mental health takes a huge dip.β
ZD (who asked to be quoted using his initials) said: βIf I work 40 hours a week, all of itβs going to is housing, food, and essentials. Not fun with my family, friends, or doing the fun stuff that the world has to offer.β
Tiffany described the students current situation: βItβs more like surviving.β
There was a consensus amongst the students that thereβs a shortage of jobs that pay well and are also enjoyable β forcing the young Arizonans to work a job they described as βsustainableβ over one they would have organically sought out without the incentive of a stable income.
But we also spent a chunk of time discussing higher education and community colleges in particular.
Luisa, who graduated from a Catholic high school, said sheβs well aware of what she described as a βstigmaβ around community colleges and was wary about feeling held back while her high school friends went off to university. Not only did Luisa seamlessly ease into community college culture, joining student government (ultimately becoming vice president of the school), but she also received scholarships that alleviated the financial burden of higher education, she said.
βI was on a presidential honors scholarshipβ¦ and so every scholarship that I was going after was just pocketed. I already had my first year in my tuition paid off and I hadnβt spent a dime on education. I was literally getting paid to go to school, so why was I having any doubts in anyway. And even if I did have to pay out of pocket, it would be like $2,000 vs. $12,000 like at ASU [Arizona State University],β Luisa said. βI fell into the stigma, but now Iβm trying to actively break it for other people because it is ridiculous how expensive tuition is.β
When it comes to working through school, students said their most accessible options have been the jobs theyβve found on campus.
βThere are so many modalities and options in how we want to attend class, explore hobbies, and work jobs,β said one student (who asked to remain anonymous). This student plays on the schoolβs basketball team, which is a big part of their collegiate experience. Theyβve been able to play basketball, attend class, and work on campus. βThe job opportunities on campus make it a lot easier to do school.β
βAs a generation, weβre tryingβ
The Maricopa Community College system students described key differences in the way they view the world as compared to their parentsβ or grandparentsβ generations, including when it comes to politics. Though many of the students lean left, there was a mix of ideologies in the room, and most said they donβt identify with a specific party.
βI donβt necessarily side with one party or another because there is a lot of gray area, and with parties itβs always black and white. Iβm ok with sitting in the gray area,β one student said.
Across the board, the students said they care about mental health and respecting each othersβ opinions.
βWe try to care about environmentalism, animal rights, disabilities, itβs like, weβre trying,β said Luisa.
βI feel like as a generation, weβre trying,β said another student.
βI feel like even just what you said right now, where youβre like, βI can see where theyβre coming from,β it shows that you have compassion,β said Nina, referring to a back and forth dialogue between the students just minutes prior.
On trust
After former President Donald Trumpβs guilty conviction, I wrote that young people in both Arizona and Nevada fear that partisanship and political motivation, as well as the 2016 and 2020 elections in general, have contributed to a breakdown of national trust. The students in Mesa said thereβs an overall βhesitancy to accept it as it isβ that stems from an information overload on social media.
On science, a nursing student said: βOf course I do believe in science, and trust the WHO [World Health Organization], all these institutions, but then [after] COVID, now I donβt know what information Iβm supposed to be trustingβ¦ Iβm always going to be cross referencing. Thereβs still trust there, just not as much as there was before.β
When it comes to news, Xander said: βI take everything with a grain of salt.β
And whether itβs due to a lack of trust or just overall dissatisfaction with the countryβs electoral system, the students expressed disdain for the electoral college.