Sadegh Zibakalam with his daughter

Take a class on civics, government, or introductory politics. If a civics class is required or optional in your high school, take the class—and pay attention! You can always find courses on politics in college, but even if you’re not in school, you may be able to at least sit in on an introductory course on politics at a nearby community college.

• You can also find open, free online courses on politics with some quick internet searching.