There are not enough words to express the disappointment I feel for my country. I am at a loss for words, but staying silent is what he wants. Being obedient is what he wants. So I need to speak out.

Today as I maneuvered myself through my school day, I saw the same people who smile and laugh every day shed tears as they feared their future. I saw my professors cry. The cafe, which always has people dancing because it's playing Demi Lovato or something else that's fun, was barren despite a few melancholy bodies trying to get through the day.

My city was silent today. A city that consistently exerts so much energy, so much art, so much expression and so much love was suddenly speechless. Tears fell to the ground as cis-white businessmen stepped on them as they rushed to work. I shed tears for those men too, it must be painfully hard to be that ignorant.

I am almost ashamed to say I am an American today, as thousands of people- some of them my friends and family, rejoice in commencing our new "President". I say President in quotes because I simply cannot call him a figure of authority, let alone the leader of this country.

I am a woman. I am a Jewish woman. I am a Jewish woman involved in the LGBTQ+ community. I am a Jewish woman involved in the LGBTQ+ community who aspires to thrive in the arts. I am all of this and so much more, but our president would stop at the word woman and automatically deem me as inferior. I am fearful. I fear for the future of my gender. I am fearful for the future of my sexuality as well as my community. I am fearful for the others who share my religious beliefs. I am fearful for my craft. We elected a man who makes me fear walking out of my apartment.

However, this isn't the end. This isn't the series finale of America. The country is stronger than one bad presidential election. We are not weak.

Our country has faced hardships before. History has repeated itself more than once. We are a nation that has been strong and has supported itself for a very long time. We may be divided currently, but we will always be a 'we'. For those that claim that they are going to flee to Canada or some other country that seems more appealing right now, stay. This is the time to be here. This is the time to invoke change among those who doubt us. This is the time to create art to reflect our feelings. This is the time to create art to inspire. This is the time to love harder than we've ever loved before. This is the time to express ourselves louder than we've ever expressed before. I want to see beautiful art, beautiful smiles. I want to hear laughter again. I want to feel safe. I am actively going to strive to make my community better, my city better, my state better, and my country better- despite whoever is in charge. You should too. Be part of the solution. Be part of the movement.