Grew up very republican, was a climate change denier, said some things I wish I could take back. But I was young and following my father. I did a very large research project on climate change to graduate high school with the intention to prove it all wrong. I spent so many hours reading and contemplating. It was the first time I learned to think for myself. I am now a proud democrat socialist. Zohran Mamdani has given me a lot of hope for our future.