this election with Bernie, and then went to Hilary, as she reflected my views best out of all the candidates. Donald Trump made me laugh in his campaign but I also feared him, I feared that he would harm me and the ones around me. As I watched the election results on Tuesday night, I was filled with dread, and fear. thought it was a nightmare, and deciding I did not want to face the results, I went to sleep before the winner was decided. Wednesday morning I woke up at 5:45 AM, and immediately checked my phone for the results. When I saw the results, my heart broke. I began crying because I was so scared and shocked. I recovered, and began my morning routine per usual, when I thought of my friends, and family. I thought of my latino and latina friends who were so afraid of losing their families, my little Ethiopian cousins who have such bright futures ahead of them, my grandmother, who is not Muslim, yet who wears a scarf on her head for religious reasons. I cried and was terrified. I talked to my friend whose parents are immigrants. When her 10 year old little sister found out the results she cried, and her parents said "we need a plan". I was terrified for my friend and her family. I called my mother, who hadn't heard about the results yet, and urged me to have faith in this system. I calmed down and went to get a tea from Peet's. An man in his 50s asked me how I was, and I replied that I was ok. He replied saying that we had a scary four years ahead of us, and when I brought up my friends sister crying, he said "there are many children crying today". I got to school and there was a somber air that wrapped around the school. There was more silence then ever, and fear. In the hallway, I witnessed teachers crying, and throughout the day heard of more breaking down. Almost everyone was shell shocked and numb. As I ended the school day, I thought more about this. The result was scary, and horrifying but I also saw it as an opportunity. When thinking about the situation I was afraid but I felt we must fight. When racism, misogyny, and rape culture is elected, we must fight back. We must first educate ourselves to differentiate from those who are not educated, and educate others. We must speak out, and let our voice be heard. We must speak out for those who cannot speak. We must be an example to the younger generation who look at us with fear filled eyes. We must comfort each other in this time of need, and have hope.We must not allow this to limit us because so many of us have bright, bright, futures. We must work harder in our own individual lives to create the change this country needs. We must stand as allies to all the communities being threatened. We must help others when they are scared, and prevent more pain then is needed. We must fight, in our own lives, communities, and country. I urge you all, as a 17 year old girl who longs for a bright future, to act. This is not the end, this is the beginning.
