Unfortunately, on January 20, 2017, Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States of America. But that is our reality.

All day I have been hearing from friends in other states the acts of bullying, oppression, and victimization they have witnessed in the past 16 hours. Luckily, I have not seen or experienced anything personally. But, being a woman and classified as a person of color, I understand the deep feeling of loss- in respect and safety in public places. I cannot sympathize enough with those who are feeling an indescribable amount of pain because of what our future president stands for.

Of course, being an 18-year old who knows next to nothing about politics, I do not have the credibility to tell anyone what to do or how to do it. But if you are open to my opinion, my message to you is this. Not accepting the fact that this man is our president is the wrong direction. Protesting against him by using profanity is not the right way to handle this situation. I suggest we make a change. This is a problem bigger than just one man. This problem lies within the larger system behind the man, the government. This problem is one that can only be fixed if we have a clear mind and think wisely about why he even became our president. Don’t dwell on the fact that we did not “feel the Bern” or that we are not going to have the first female president. Instead, do as much as you can to spread love, peace and tolerance across all platforms and groups you are associated with. I urge you to stand up for social justice. And I urge you to use your head to make a change.

Discuss in your classrooms, your friend groups, your families, your sports teams, your clubs, etc. how our country is facing an issue much larger than Donald Trump. Look at this problem on a level that is bigger than our day-to-day lives. Look at the way our election system is set up. Don't let the old generation of America change the course of our lives. This issue lies within our government and the ancient ways of American societies.

So, in the words of Hillary Clinton; “This loss hurts but pleases never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.”