Let me start off by saying, this wasn’t even my article to write. It wasn’t my idea even though it is something that affects people like me, and is something I feel very strongly about. It was what someone I know wanted to write about. And the reason she couldn’t write about it is because of the way she was treated by some, for wanting to express her opinion peacefully. Parts of this piece are her words, and other parts are mine. I know I will receive hate for speaking my mind, but it’s ironic because I’m at the point where the more hate I receive on my opinions...the louder I get.

In light of recent political events, I’ve seen lots of posts and comments about how millennials are “brats”, “cry babies”, “melodramatic” etc. This piece isn’t about whether I support Trump or Hillary. Although by the end of this, it will be clear who I didn’t support. This is however, about the aftermath of this election, what some of us are going through, and how we are allowed to feel. Even in situations that have nothing to do with the election, I feel like young people are subjected to pain and discrimination (among other things), and feel forced to keep quiet about it. I wanted to shed some light on what some of us are going through, and the feelings associated with that.

Your feelings are valid. You have a right to feel sad, angry, and fearful, and I don’t think anyone has the right to belittle you for that. You’re not a “pansy”. You are not weak.

Think of it this way. Suppose you meet someone with a form of cancer. They’re going through chemotherapy. Are you going to go up to them and tell them that their cancer is fake? That it’s just something they’re being “melodramatic” about? Would you tell them that their pain is not real? Well it’s the same thing in this case. You may not be able to feel our pain. You may not fully believe that it is as bad as we say. You may not understand it. But, does that make it nonexistent? Definitely not. It’s there. It’s still very real.

As an Indian American (even though I'm Canadian), as a girl with brown skin...I am afraid. Many people dismiss my fear as stupidity. As something that shouldn't even exist. But, my fear is very real.

Let me remind you all of an incident that occurred fifteen years ago. Something that changed our country forever. We all remember September 11th, 2001. Whether we're Caucasian, African American, Asian, Middle Eastern, we remember. Maybe we all don't remember exactly where we were, or what exactly we were doing when we heard the news. But, we still remember it. So many people of so many backgrounds, cultures, religions, etc. lost their lives and/or their loved ones that very tragic day - we remember it.

But I feel what many tend to forget is those that died or lost their lives in a very different way. 9/11 changed the lives of so many innocent people. All of which didn't deserve it. When I hear people say now...after the decision made by the country on 11/9, that my fear is stupid, that my fear is uncalled for...it's hurtful. Very hurtful. For anyone with brown skin, or a Indian/Middle Eastern background the aftermath of 9/11 meant hate comments. For me, it meant not being able to go out of my house to play and always being seen with a more watchful eye. It meant so many people I know and knew, being ashamed to be of their religion. It meant so many of my Muslim sisters, not being able to step out of their homes with their hijabs, without feeling unsafe. It meant my Sikh brothers, not being able to step out of the house without being beaten, because they "looked like a terrorist." They receive this treatment because they had a turban on. By being silent or uttering ignorant comments makes me feel as an outcast - in my very own country, my home and around the one's I love. It meant people around me calling me a "terrorist", saying "how's Uncle Osama?"...telling me to "get out of their country.".

9/11 happened over fifteen years ago, but the hate we face is still very much alive. The racist comments we face, are very much alive. But most of all...the fear is alive. The fear of being hurt or even killed simply for looking the way we do. The fear of not being able to be who we are.

Almost all of us that live here, just want the same respect and dignity that the rest of you have and expect. We don't want to be blamed for something none of us did. So please, try to understand us. Try to love us. We don't ask for much.

I really believe this is much the same situation with people around my age, with mental illness. Myself included.

Mental illnesses have long been referred to as “invisible illnesses”, and for the longest time I didn’t understand why. Because to me, mental illnesses are far from invisible. They have signs. The sad part is most people just look the other way, and call it a “mood” or tell you to “get over it”. But I think what people fail to realize, is that unless you have mental illness or know and interact with someone close to you with mental illness, you truly won’t understand how terrible it is. You won’t understand how you have a constant feeling of being a gorilla in a cage at the zoo. You see people looking at you differently. You see a few even reaching out, trying to be your friend. But most of them slap those hands of friendship away. Simply because you’re different. Is that really what we stand for? Are so many of you trying to tell me that it is a result of millennials being “bratty”, “melodramatic”, and “weak”? Because if so...I’m sorry, but you’re wrong. You’re very wrong. People don’t just wake up one morning and think, “Alright, I’m going to die today.” Mental illness and even racism are slow killers. It’s like building a brick wall around someone. One brick won’t do anything. But once you start adding more and more bricks...once that person is fully enclosed in hate, they will die. Not physically always. But mentally and emotionally, they will be dead.

Many people may say that they’re sorry if their opinions hurt someone’s feelings, but at this point I’m not sorry in the least bit. The sad part is that much of the hate millennials receive isn’t always from people older than them. Many times, it’s from other millennials, themselves. And I can’t help but wonder why. I do, however; realize that people don’t understand because it doesn’t affect them. I mean how can you understand something that you haven’t tried to understand or experienced? And I think that’s the best way to combat this hate. Educate people on why they’re wrong, or why you feel a certain way. Don’t resort to violence. Don’t resort to profanity. Resort to words. Resort to firmness. Resort to kindness. Resort to love.

~V.G

A lot of this was written by a friend who is newer to me, but a friend who also is brave enough to speak her truths. Someone who is brave enough to step up for what she believes in, despite the things that may come back to knock her off her feet. And she's 100% right in this especially... Take the initiative to step up and resort to kindness. Be the change you wish to see in this world, instead of waiting on everyone else to do it for you. Choose love. -Bailey Byrum