I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary. I admired -- and still admire -- his tenacity, his idealism, his dedication towards challenging the American status quo. No one expected him to win twenty-two states or raise millions of dollars through donations solely from the people. I truly thought that he would become the next president of the United States.

The day the media coronated Hillary Clinton as the presumptive Democratic nominee, a lot of us Sanders supporters were lost and confused. I decided to lay out all my possible choices going forward: One, abstain, or write in Bernie’s name on my ballot (which is basically the same as abstaining). Two, vote for a third-party candidate such as the Green Party’s Jill Stein or the Libertarian Party’s Gary Johnson. Three, vote for Donald Trump, a tactless, xenophobic reality TV show host whom I consider to be clueless in terms of domestic and foreign policy. Four, vote for Hillary Clinton, someone who has shattered glass ceilings and advocated for a similar agenda to that of Sanders, but is largely perceived as crooked, artificial, and untrustworthy.

Judging by the title of this article, I think you already know which route I’ve decided to tread. As a Bay Area native attending one of the most liberal-leaning universities in the world, I can easily say that I am an unswerving progressive, and so are many of my peers. But, when I decided to announce my decision to some of my fellow Bernie supporters, I was met with disgust, disdain, and disapproval. While some were supportive, albeit surprised, many criticized me for “surrendering to the establishment” and “going against what Bernie stood for.”

What many people forget, however, is that Clinton and Sanders share similar ideas and platforms. During the two years they shared in the Senate, from 2007 to 2009, Hillary and Bernie voted in sync 93 percent of the time. If you were to juxtapose each candidate’s positions on certain issues side by side, you could visualize how slim the difference between the two really is. Sanders just focuses more on tackling big businesses and income inequality, while Clinton emphasizes an array of issues such as immigration and civil rights. Sanders and Clinton also agree that Obamacare is a step towards the right direction, but unlike Clinton, Sanders just seeks to expand the program.

Now, I understand that Clinton has made some questionable mistakes in the past, mistakes that have initially prevented me from voting for her in the Democratic primary. I don’t agree with her hawkish foreign policy, nor am I very comfortable with her connections to Wall Street. Yet, despite this, she’s still a hell of a lot better than Donald Trump.

This is more than a "lesser than two evils" argument. We're talking about a guy who believes women should be punished for having abortions; who exploits a tragic mass shooting to gloat and promote his anti-Muslim agenda on social media; who tacitly encourages his supporters to engage in political violence; who intends to round up all 11 million immigrants living in the United States and deport them; who believes that nations hostile to the United States like Iran, Russia, and North Korea can easily concede to his orders simply because he is Donald Trump. Trump lacks any kind of political experience or judgment, whether it be foreign or domestic policy. He has no actual proposals, just aimless, generalized promises.

While I may not fully agree with Hillary’s stance on military intervention, I can still trust her to efficiently lead our country in both domestic and foreign matters. Unlike Trump, Hillary has the experience and judgment to create the policies necessary to keep our country intact. She would preserve and protect my rights as a woman of color -- Trump would just trample all over them. She plans to raise the federal minimum wage to $12/hour, which may be easier for Congress to pass than Sanders’ promise of $15/hour. She intends to cut taxes for working and middle-class families, and she has a methodical, comprehensive plan to tackle climate change and global warming. Oh, and while Clinton may have initially been lukewarm towards the LGBT+ campaign during her presidential run in 2008, she has now fully embraced marriage equality and has earned an endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign, one of the largest LGBT charities in the nation. Can Trump promise any of that?

But, Somya, how could you give up just like that? By voting for Jill Stein or writing in Sanders’ name, we’re making a statement to the DNC that we can’t be bought.

I completely understand. The DNC has thrown us progressives under the bus for a long time. But, there is a lot at stake with this election. “Making a statement” isn’t going to defeat Donald Trump. Doing so might actually split the liberal vote, allowing Trump to win by a possible landslide.

A third-party candidate is unlikely to win. It has never happened in the history of the United States since third parties usually die out once one of the major parties adopts their platforms and draws their voters in as a result. In fact, despite the findings of a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll that 40 percent of registered voters said they would consider a third-party nominee during the 2012 election, only around 1.5 percent of voters actually followed through and cast a vote for a third-party candidate.

Third-party nominees can, however, serve as “spoilers” who draw away votes from one or both of the major political parties. Jill Stein, along with Gary Johnson and other outsider candidates, is most likely no exception.

For the same reason, writing in Bernie’s name will only do more harm than good. But, while Bernie Sanders will not be president, he has already won. His message is so loud and clear that it echoes in the ears of every American who longs for change. This revolution will happen, but right now, we need someone who won’t push our progress as a nation backward. Hillary’s administration can foster a basic foundation for Bernie’s revolution to grow. She is the only person standing in the way of a Trump presidency, and I am ready to make my vote count.

So, yes, I’ll say it, unabashed and unashamed, loud and proud: I’m With Her.