After the election, I saw countless posts on Facebook from family and friends. Mostly liberal friends and family who were in shock, and some conservatives rejoiced quietly on my feed. Anyone who knows me understands how much of a Hillary supporter I was, to the point that I was getting texts from family I hadn't heard from in a while the day after the loss.
I was really heartbroken, and people laugh when I say that it was kind of like the worst break-up ever. But it felt like that to me. I was waiting for hours that day to post my photo with the Hillary cardboard cut-out in the campaign office with a celebratory caption, and I never got to. I felt obligated to write some paragraph of inspiration or thought after the results like everyone else was, but I couldn't bring myself to do it because I was feeling too much. Still, I haven't fully responded to the election, but I've written some pieces about the results and the man we elected. I think now I feel fully ready to respond to what I see as America's greatest loss- the loss of an experienced, professional, compassionate woman who would have led this country to further greatness. I think the best way to do that is to write with gratitude for the people I met along the way.
Moving to college is crazy, and when I joined the Hillary campaign in the fall of 2016 in my new city of San Diego, I finally felt like I had found somewhere I belonged and could really connect with people. The end of the campaign had me crying in the campaign office as the results came in, but the weekends and evenings of phone banking after class reminded me of what we still have every single day- hope.
So, to the people I met, here are the stories I will always cherish from you (names not disclosed for the privacy of good friends).
To the campaign head of staff at our beautiful San Diego office (with a view of the bay and the sunset, no less), thank you for the greatest words and greatest hope in the darkest moment on election night. When we were all seeing the results and were shaken with fear, you stood up and thanked us for our work, pledged to keep working for what is right, and empowered us with your genuine hope and dedication. I'll never forget your words that "the arc of the universe always bends toward justice," because they were the perfect remedy for my heartbreak after the election and will always keep me moving.
To the woman who held my hand in fear as the results seemed conclusive, thank you for showing me why we'll all keep fighting. With fear she asked to hold my hand, and having never met her I was a bit hesitant but then she spoke to me with reality in mind. She worried about having to move her family, what her future would be like, and how life would change. I promised her we still had hope, and in that moment felt the beginning of the tremendous impact this election would and does have- and was motivated to keep fighting, speaking, and working.
To my friend from the phone bank downtown, thank you for making me smile and being such a generous soul. Your hours of work inspired me and the joy you had from even the toughest phone calls to voters kept me going. Even when we were cursed out by conservatives, we managed to smile.
To the young girl who fought hard for Bernie and came to the Clinton campaign with the greatest passion I've seen in a while, thank you for reminding me of why we keep working to support the good causes and people everywhere. Thank you for bringing (and smashing) the Donald Trump pinata, and for being so tough.
To the women who I met on the first day of phone calls who told me their stories and thanked me for helping out, I want to say thank you. Knowing how the work of President Obama helped you and knowing how Hillary impacted your lives years ago reminds me to be active, aware, and the keep asking questions and pushing for change.
To the phone bank staffer who welcomed me on my first day and hugged me through my tears on the last night, thank you for your friendship. From the Hillary pins you gave me to the joy that you brought to the campaign, you gave us all a reason to keep working. You care about people and causes and for that, I was so inspired.
To my conservative friend who called me on Election night, questioned me, and cursed me out from hundred of miles away, thank you for giving me a reason to keep working against the hate you showed me. You brought me down, but when you went low, I was propelled to go high.
And to my Lyft driver on the way to the phone bank, I want to say an immense thank you. I hope you'll read this, because your story is one I tell everyone. Since I don't have a car on campus, I took the bus and Lyft to events for the campaign. After one driver ranted about Hillary in anger, I was never sure whether or not to talk about my destination on rides. One day I decided to go for it, and to my luck, I met a driver who had the same passion for Stronger Together that I had. Since, we've met up for coffee and become great friends. Through her, I found out why the fight for Hillary was years in the making, why we needed her voice so much, and how wonderful even the most random stranger can be. Thank you not only for the free rides, but for your friendship.
Responding to the election has been really hard for me, but responding to my friends from the campaign was the best way to do it. I can't say enough how much gratitude I have for these people. And that's why I loved this campaign- because the effort and fight for unity helped me to meet amazing people. Outside of that, this election taught me a lot. The biggest thing? When people say to move on, calm down, don't worry, or that you're a broken-hearted, crying liberal, ignore it. Keep being angry, crying, and being distraught. Never normalize the racist in the highest office on the planet- now's the time for change, hope, and the strongest fight ever- not complacency.
