I wake up today, November 9, not knowing how to feel. Donald Trump has been elected our President, and my minority, female, and LGBT friends are all fearing for their lives.

What did we as Americans have to do to deserve this?

The first thing my sociology professor said when he walked in my class this morning (he happens to be white, gay, and married to a minority) was, "We decided not to buy a house, and now my marriage might be declared invalid." My heart shattered.

We should not have to fear for our lives as Americans. We live in a country that is the land of the free and the home of the brave, but that is not evident today. The Canadian immigration site crashed last night because of fear in America.

I am not saying I am with Hillary, and I am not saying I am with Trump. I am afraid for America as a whole. If Hillary had been elected, I would've been afraid for the unborn and the military. With Trump elected, I am afraid for women, minorities, and LGBTQ. Being a woman, I am appalled by this turn of events, but all I can hope and pray for is that we will all be stronger together and fight the good fight. We can embrace the next 4 years, or we can run from them. It's up to us.

I hope that this does not spread hate, because we are so much more than our hatred for one another. We are one nation under God, and we must recognize that this is just a bump in the road in our time as a nation. We will rise from this, both good and bad will come from this, and we will rise. We are a strong people and we will survive together.