On November 9th, I woke up feeling like I was still dreaming. Something turned inside me as I remembered that Donald Trump had had the lead when I went to bed the night before. I held my breath as I turned to Google and discovered that fear mongering, racism, misogyny, xenophobia, and bullying had won out; we had elected Donald Trump.

The entire day, I didn't let the thought touch me; I was fully immersed in denial. Not knowing what to do or say, I simply went about my day, harboring an aimless anger. Later that evening, a good friend and I attended a gathering called UMD United After The Election. Hundreds of people turned up to listen to each other list their fears, give personal accounts of wrongs that had already been committed, and give ideas about ways to make a difference in our country. One boy brought an American flag and flew it upside down as a sign that our country was in distress. About halfway through the gathering, however, a Trump supporter made his way through the crowd, wrested the flag away from its owner, and began disassembling it saying, "Fly it right or don't fly it at all." The flag's owner and a girl who came for the gathering attempted to take the flag back, citing their right to free expression, but the Trump supporter began pushing them and ended up causing a physical altercation at an otherwise peaceful rally.

There is no question that the results of the 2016 election delivered a crushing blow for Muslims, people of color, women, immigrants, members of the LGBT+ community, and allies of any of the aforementioned groups. Not only are people scared for Trump to be the 45th president, but they are concerned about the culture of hate that has already become evident in Trump's campaign. In preparation for this article, I asked the people around me about their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the election and the results. It is no coincidence that the word most used in the responses I received was "terrified."

1. "This is my country, too."

"Going to a very conservative school always made me uncomfortable, but I knew I had to be accepting of other people's views. I mean, we were taught to love one another. Yet as soon as I saw Trump's name gleaming on the TV screen, my heart sank. I wasn't sure what was to come of tomorrow. And I was right; people came out wearing 'Blue Lives Matter' hats and T-shirts, and everyone seemed more energetic, but in an evil way. Some people were more aggressive when it came to certain topics like #BlackLivesMatter, having no regard for other people in the room. So, I cannot do anything but wait this all out and pray for the best. Because this is my country too."

2. "I feel helpless."

"I started feeling sick as the country got more and more red. It was upsetting that people around me didn't seem to understand the gravity of the situation. It was like my world was falling apart but to them it was just a hilarious outcome. I keep seeing a future where a solidly conservative Supreme Court unravels all the social progress of the past few decades. I asked people what about abortion? And marriage equality? And protection for transgender people? What would stop the court from overturning all these decisions? And no one had an answer, but no one was panicking as much as me. I'm scared now. As a bisexual woman, I'm legitimately terrified for myself and for all the other members of the LGBT+ community especially. I feel helpless. I feel like the country has just voted for me to get out."

3. "They basically threw away their vote."

"I think the people who voted for third parties or the 11,000 who voted for Harambe are the worst. They basically threw away their vote and too many people have fought for them to have that right. As for the people who voted Trump, America will be great again for people who have the privilege of hating and getting away with it, who never have to worry about being discriminated against for something they cannot change, and who are blind to the problems our society will inevitably face with Trump's presidency."

4. "I am truly sad."

"I am livid. I am irate. I am disappointed. I am confused. I am truly sad. I do not care about whatever Trump's policies may be. No one whose character encompasses any level of incivility, bigotry, or utter ignorance should be representing our country. The only 'benefit' is that people I need to stay away from have exposed themselves."

5. "There are still a lot of people who don't care."

"One thing I'm scared to see is how sexual assault cases will play out over the next four years. I feel that we've made a lot of progress as a country in terms of assessing sexual assault cases and respecting those who were victims, but seeing as our country just elected a president who has been accused on multiple occasions of being a perpetrator of sexual assault, it is apparent that there are still a lot people who don't care. I just fear that if anything like that ever happened to one of my sisters, they wouldn't receive the respect and due process they deserve."

6. "His presidency is still a gateway to more violence and oppression."

"While some of Trump's more extreme policies will most likely not become law, I feel like his presidency is still a gateway to more violence and oppression against marginalized groups.It's terrifying to confront how a nation built on the idea of freedom and equality could let an evil that goes against such values triumph like this. My disappointment and dismay is not only directed at Trump but also at the 93 million eligible people who did not vote. My theology teacher was saying how if Americans are so willing to waste their votes in such ways maybe we deserve a president like Trump and honestly I wasn't completely disagreeing when he said that."

7. "The promise of the American dream died with this election."

"I'm dumbfounded. Fear mongering prevailed, and the world is descending into chaos. We underestimated sexism. Sexism is more pervasive than racism. It exists and we're complicit in it; we don't fight it the way we do racism. As an immigrant, black woman, who grew up wanting to live in America, I feel like the promise of the American dream died with this election. America is officially morally bankrupt as far as I'm concerned."

8. "I'm terrified to leave my room."

"I never knew that there were so many sexist, racist, and idiotic people who live in this country until I found out who won this election. I'm honestly scared because I've been reading about what has been going on since Trump was elected. Someone wrote on a wall "make America white again" and drew a swastika. People have been killed! I'm terrified to leave my room. I go to class and I get scared every time I hear a loud crash of sorts."

9. "This is not what my parents immigrated to America for."

"This is a very serious issue. The fact that it has already caused so many problems within school communities that students have to deal with makes it worse. I think the key to this is trying to gain understanding for people who are different from us. Understanding and respect can lead to unification. The results shook me to my core. I never believed that Trump becoming president would become a reality. It has made me lose hope and faith in America. This is not what my parents immigrated to America for."

10. "With love, we can conquer the hatred of others."

"As an out member of the LGBTQ community and as a woman, the election results have both deeply saddened and scared me. I grew up in a world when I was not sure if I would be able to marry in my home state or if I would ever feel comfortable holding my girlfriend’s hand on the sidewalk. I cried when I stopped worrying about these issues and I have cried today knowing that children might grow up with these same concerns. There is fear in my heart both for myself and for others who I know will become targets in a world seemingly run by hatred. It is important that we spend this time to spread more love than usual and care for all those around us. I urge you to do something kind for someone today, and every day following. With love, we can conquer the hatred of others and create a nation we can all adoringly call our home."

In Conclusion...

It has been a difficult few days since Trump's election, but if there is one thing I have learned from the responses I've received, it is that the people of America still feel something. Despite the terrible message it sends to have a president-elect as hateful and crude as Donald Trump, we still have it in our power to come together and make a change. And even if you can't protest or attend rallies or speak out against injustices, you can be that change by loving those around you, something Trump and his supporters have failed miserably at time and time again. In addition to that, make sure that you or anyone else who needs it seeks help to get through what will surely be a rough period of time. Stay strong, stay safe, and stay hopeful because love always trumps hate.