TAMPA, Fla. — Election Day isn’t just for adults. Hillsborough Public Schools uses it as an educational tool to teach students why voting is so important.

Chiarmonte Elementary School in Tampa was one of several schools across the county to participate in the Hillsborough Public Schools student mock election. These students said it was exciting to sit down and vote for president, just like their parents do.

On Tuesday, the school library was transformed into a voting location, and third, fourth and fifth graders had the opportunity to vote for the President of the United States.

Third-grader Amit Sanichara said the voting process made him feel like an adult.

“Imagine there’s a big ocean and you’re a little drop of water, that’s a little vote,” Sanichara said.

Other students said they didn’t realize how quick and easy voting could be.

“When I voted today, I was really excited and nervous, but I’m done voting, and I really think I made the right choice to vote and let people know what I think ” said third-grader Sophia Strutz.

Assistant principal Sabrina Tshiamalenge said they started slowly, asking students to vote for their favorite dessert or candy, and worked their way up to president.

“They feel empowered. They also feel like they have a voice, I know this will be a story that will be told for many weeks and months and hopefully in the years to come, “I voted, I voted when I was in Chiarmonte, “it’s very exciting,” says Tshiamalenge.

Many of these students did their own research on each candidate, taking the responsibility of voting seriously.

“We’re really lucky to vote because some countries don’t really have the right to vote,” Strutz said.

“It’s a very, very happy moment for me, very proud that they are aware and understand that they know what’s happening in the world, and that it affects not only them, but also the whole country.” , said Tshiamalenge.

However, perhaps the highlight of the day was receiving their “I’m a Future Voter” sticker on the way back to class.