By Michael Ball

Valley Voices Staff Writer

A year after a national election that brought young voters out in droves, teens' opinions about President Barack Obama remain strong, if unchanged.

Kyle Hixson, a sophomore at Chattanooga Christian School, supported Sen. John McCain's bid for the presidency last year and said he holds to that.

"(President) Obama has done exactly what I expected him to do," Kyle said, "which was nothing."

Turnout among young voters rose last year for the third consecutive major election, based on exit-poll estimates from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement research group based at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

Participation among 18- to 29-year-olds nationwide rose by 5 percent in 2008 over the 2004 election, according to study data.

Tanner Thul, a junior at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, strongly supported President Obama during the election. He said he still does and understands that the current administration may not accomplish all its goals.

"Like any president, he can't do everything he promised, but he is still trying," Tanner said.

There have been many controversial events over the course of President Obama's term, and teenagers have been paying attention.

Clayton McMasters, a junior at Grace Baptist Academy, said he is tired of the apparent indecision President Obama has shown on the issue of the American military presence in Iraq.

"He needs to either send more troops to Iraq or pull them out," Clayton said.

There also has been controversy surrounding President Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

Alex Myers, a junior at East Hamilton High School, said he feels the award was given to President Obama prematurely.

"I don't think he should have gotten the Nobel Peace Prize, because he hasn't done anything yet," Alex said.

Malik Moughrabi, a senior at Signal Mountain High School, said President Obama eventually may deserve the award but not so early in his presidency.

"He has really good policies," Malik said, "but he just hasn't done anything yet."

Whichever candidate they supported, the 2008 election opened a lot of teenagers' eyes, Tanner said.

"I have noticed that teens seem to be more observant than ever and are more aware of what is going on," he said. "This is a good thing to me, no matter who they support."

Michael Ball is a student at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences.