CHICAGO (WLS) — Hundreds of high school students came out to register or pre-register to vote as part of National Teens Voter Registration Day, a movement aimed at inspiring and mobilizing teens to participate in the democratic process.

“I feel like I’m making a difference in the world, not just for myself but for everyone around me,” said Izelle Marie Jacobo, a first-time voter.

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Leo High School in Gresham hosted student registration sessions for students from six different high schools. Get Out The Vote for Teens helped the schools organize Tuesday’s event.

“This is my way of raising awareness and showing teens that their voice counts and they need to have a say,” said Letina Brady Pettis of Get Out The Vote for Teens.

Jacobo celebrates her 18th birthday on Friday. She says she is ready to speak out, but is paying special attention to issues that affect her personally.

“My father is an immigrant, he’s not here with me today, so I think my vote is all about how this could help me, but also thousands of other immigrant families,” she said.

Jacobo said she was separated from her father, who lives in Mexico, and hasn’t seen them in a year. That’s one of the many reasons teachers are urging young voters to pay attention to who is in power.

“They felt a renewed enthusiasm for the electoral process and will watch tonight’s debate with a new sense of involvement,” said Dr. Shaka Rawls, principal of Leo High School.

“I’ve been thinking about voting since 2016, just before Trump was elected,” said Derrion Anderson, a student at Leo High School. “I’m excited to finally have a say in how the election turns out.”

In Illinois, 16- and 17-year-olds can also register to vote in advance.

“When the next election comes around, they won’t have to do that,” said Letitia Brady Pettis, founder of National Teen Voter Registration Day. “They’re already in the system.”

“We can go out, we can change our own future and put it in our own hands,” said Leo High School 12th grader Nicholas Armour. “That’s something I don’t think the youth of the past have done enough. We’ve allowed older generations to dictate how our country is run when in reality we’re the ones who are going to live in it for 50 to 60 years, so we should be the ones taking charge.”

“We see them on the 31st Street Beach or at the occupations downtown, but we don’t listen to them,” said Shaka Rawls, principal of Leo High School. “This is an opportunity for our young people to have a voice and for us to listen to them.”

Organizers urged everyone in the community to encourage young people to vote.

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According to the Chicago Board of Elections, there have been a total of 34,000 new registrations since June 1.

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The next Teen Voter Registration Day will be on September 19 at the Chicago High School of Agricultural Sciences.