To say this election season has been complete chaos is an understatement. Nothing about this presidential election was ‘ordinary’, and unfortunately just because the votes have been counted and the President-elect has been chosen doesn’t seem to have brought us any closer together. If you voted Democrat, Republican, Independent or one of the 15,000 that voted for Harambe, it doesn’t matter anymore; what’s fair is fair and more people voted for Donald Trump. There’s nothing we can do now to change that. Trust me, it wasn’t easy for me to accept either, but we knew their was going to be a winner and someone who fell short, just like every other race in the past. But no matter where you stand, and how you feel today, the sun will keep rising and we can get through this.

As Martin Luther King Jr said during another difficult time of great social and economic unrest is this “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” And he was right. You have a right to be upset or happy about the results of this election, but this is not a time for hate and anger because someone might hold different views and values than you. Be hurt, but don’t go out and violently protest because you don’t agree with the decision. Rise above the hate and be the best most just and loving person you can be. Use the hurt and emotion you are currently feeling to make the difference you want to see in this country, if you believe the President-elect won’t, be that change you want to see. Just because the person you were rooting for didn’t win, it doesn’t mean you have to change who you are. This isn’t a time to lose friends because they hold different political views than you, it's a time to come together. This is a time to unify, not grow further apart.

No matter whom your values aligned up with; Clinton, Trump or maybe it was someone else we can all agree on the importance of being kind, fair and loving people. This is a great time to befriend someone who may have voted for someone other than your preferred candidate. Get to know them, understand where they are coming from, gain empathy and awareness of those different than yourself and those outside your social circle. Get to know those of different races, religions and sexual orientations, talk to that boy or girl at your school that might seem different than you on the surface because unfortunately they suffer from a disability. We are all the same at our core, and if you take a moment to hold your tongue and just listen, you’ll realize that. This is the only way we can grow and learn, and ultimately strive as the great nation we are, because America is already great we just need to be reminded.

Regardless of how you feel today, never forget the sun will keep rising so you should continue to rise above the negatively, and be kind and respectful to all, especially those different than us.