Respect is a huge deal to me. Growing up, I learned the importance of showing respect and kindness to anyone. This lead me to the belief that respect as the most important element of any type of relationship, whether in family, friends, romance, professional, or especially with strangers.

I have taken several leadership courses at my university, and in each level we aim to create a new personal definition of a leader based on what we learn in the class. While all three of my definitions have varied, they all include the idea that a leader needs to respect those he or she is leading.

I realized last week that I have been in denial for the past two months about Donald Trump becoming the next President of the United States. I couldn't figure out why. Until now.

I have not referred to him as "President-Elect Donald Trump." Nor will I refer to him as "President Trump."

This is because I don't respect Donald Trump. As I said, I am all about respect. It takes a lot for me not to respect someone, so it's a big deal for me to not respect Trump. This is why I refuse to call him "President Trump." I will not say that. He may lead the country, but I refuse to give him that respect. Why? Because he clearly does not respect Muslims, immigrants, disabled people, people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community and so many others. I have always viewed respect as a two-way street. I will respect anyone until they provide a reason for me not to. And Donald Trump has disrespected my friends and I, too many times to deserve my respect back.

Until Donald Trump shows respect to the very people he will be leading, I will not refer to him as my president. Until then, he's just occupying a very important office.

Simply not acknowledging Donald Trump as the next president of the United States has led me into a state of denial. I enjoy this feeling of blissful ignorance. I can only hope it will get me through the next four years. But I also fear that something might happen that will lead to this state of denial being broken abruptly, and I'll have a difficult time accepting the reality I've tried so hard to ignore. Only time will tell.

I don't have high expectations for the next four years of the United States. However, I so desperately hope I am wrong. If you know me, you know that I am stubborn and I always have to be right. But for the sake of the country that I love, I am hoping I am wrong. I hope I have nothing to fear. I hope that Donald Trump will prove me wrong. And that is when I will acknowledge him as "President Donald Trump."