VIDALIA — Beyond the realms of midterms and graduation, some high school seniors and first-time voters are focused on the future of the country.

Vidalia High students LaMryia Williams and JoAnna Warshaw see change on the horizon, and that’s why they want to vote in this election.

They both see that change coming with the election of Sen. Barack Obama.

“With (Sen. John) McCain I think it’ll be the same but with Obama I think it will be different,” Williams said.

Warshaw said she feels if McCain were elected, his administration would be strikingly similar to current President Bush’s administration.

Even if the change to come is good mixed in with bad, Warshaw said she just wants to see some different things happen.

Warshaw said she’s been plugging into the news media to gather information on which candidate she would support.

“I’ve been watching TV, reading newspapers,” she said, in addition to listening to what other people around her think.

“There are just so many things that are out there,” she said.

Despite being overwhelmed at times at the massive amounts of campaigning, both voters have been able to reach a decision and have based their choices off issues they feel directly affect them.

Turns out the economy is even worrying America’s teenagers.

“America is in so much debt,” Williams said.

Warshaw said she would like to see an end to the ever-fluctuating stock market.

Both students are excited to vote, and feel it is their responsibility as legal adults and know that their vote counts.

“Everybody should have the right to their opinion,” Warshaw said.

And for those who think that just one vote doesn’t count, Williams said that’s no way to think.

“That’s a bad attitude,” she said.

In fact, Jake Loyed said the reason he is voting is because the right to vote is part of the freedom given to Americans.

He said the soldiers in Iraq are fighting for the country’s right to free will, and he’s not going to squander that.

“I’m not going to make their going to war worthless,” he said.

But he is not blind to the fact that this election is one of the biggest elections in history, he said.

“The candidates are bringing up big issues,” he said. From gun control, to the war, to illegal immigration, Loyed said those are big issues that need to be addressed and that are being tackled, though he sees the tax issue is one of the most important.

He said he’s going to vote for McCain, but not because he feels he will accomplish much.

“It’s not that I see him bringing in change, there’s just so much I see against Obama,” Loyed said.