Penn State College Democrats President Sean Meloy thinks seniors should have two goals this year: to graduate and to vote.

"Everyone else's goals should be to vote and pass," Meloy said.

With Meloy at the group's forefront, voter registration has been the focus of College Democrats so far this semester, Meloy said. These efforts will continue in full force until the voter registration deadline of Oct. 6, he said, adding then they will need to focus on informing and mobilizing voters.

"It's going to be a close election, and I truly hope that students get out there and get registered, then get informed and then get out and vote," said Meloy, who said he'll work his hardest "to keep Pennsylvania blue."

Meloy became interested in politics during another close election -- Bush versus Gore in 2000. Though he went to school in a conservative school district, he began to do his own research and liked then-Democratic nominee Al Gore more than his opponent, President George W. Bush.

"I kind of defended him in my school," Meloy said. "And then the whole stuff with the recount happened, and I thought that was a travesty."

He said he took Gore's loss as an opportunity to research the Electoral College, the party system and the history of America's political system. He was the debate team president in high school, and became involved in Young Democrats for the 2004 election, by which time he was "an ardent Democrat," he said.

"I continue to fight here in college, and here I am," said Meloy, adding that his mother discussed politics with him when he was younger and helped him form his views.

Meloy said neither of his parents ever missed an election and, even when his parents disagreed with one another, they helped him see both sides of things.

"Now when I go home, politics is a large topic of conversation, much to the chagrin of much of my family," he said. "I'm just working hard to make positive change. I've been doing that since the 2000 debacle, and I will continue to do that."

Meloy said he is looking forward to events such as "oPROMa" -- a dance for Barack Obama supporters, scheduled for Oct. 10.

"[Meloy is] always full of energy," said Colin Cwalina, spokesman for Penn State College Democrats. "He brings that excitement with him to every meeting. I know, personally, whenever I leave every meeting, I definitely feel excited and inspired to work on behalf of our 'candidates for change.' "

Cwalina said Meloy is open to new ideas from new members and added Meloy stresses not only Obama's importance in the presidential election but also the importance of lower ticket races, which don't get as much coverage.

Penn State College Republicans President Alex Smith, who sees Meloy at debates and in meetings, described him as "a nice guy."

Meloy, who served as an alternate delegate in the Democratic National Convention, said this campaign has been one of the best experiences of his life.

"It's basically what I live for," he said.