With the most recent election, like many others, I was not expecting the results. For the first time, I cast my vote in a presidential election. I voted for Hillary Clinton, thinking she was going to win the election by a land slide. A lot of my friends and family voted for her. I knew a few people who voted for Donald Trump as well, and I respect their decision to do so.

When the electoral votes started to come in state by state, it was hitting me that Donald Trump could actually win the election. Then when I woke up the next morning, I was taken back at the results that Donald Trump will be our new president in January. I saw uproars and outrages on the news, social media, and in person. I was in complete shock; I thought it could have been a dream, but it wasn’t. Years back when Donald Trump said he was going to run for president, I thought it was a publicity stunt, and I never expected him to get that far. I know a lot of people are nervous for the next four years. I can say that I am just as nervous. Even though there is nothing that can be done at this point, I completely understand why people are nervous, anxious, and afraid for the future. Do I believe that the outrages and uproars do much? Not really; but people are speaking their minds and I support that.

As someone who falls into the LGBT category, I’m nervous for what will happen in the future. I’m not sure how far things can get, such as building a wall, deporting illegal citizens, etc. since Congress has to approve everything, but I’m nervous about how people are going to act. Some harsh things have been said about minorities, people of the LGBT community, and people who are disabled have been made fun of.

I do not believe that Donald Trump can get very far with laws and such, but since, now the president says it, people may start to think that it’s okay to say things like that. I’m nervous that people who do not support gay rights, are racist, and are sexist will start to act more aggressively and put forward their beliefs. If I see two males on a date sitting next to people who do not support homosexuality, I would not be surprised if they are put down. The same goes for people who are Hispanic, African American, Asian, and anyone else in a minority. Since some pretty harsh things have been said and the idea of rights being taken away have been said by very high powers in today’s society, I’m now afraid of people thinking it’s okay to say and be like that as well. I have no clue what the next four years will bring us, but if people are afraid and want to express that [not violently], then I don’t see anything wrong with that. This is a time where people have to stick together and support each other.