It's not easy being a part of a generation that has the world resting on their shoulders. This overwhelming, never-ending responsibility became even more real during the 2016 election. Being a college student during an election year is not easy. Every day you open your social media to a timeline full of arguments, a classroom full of opinions, and a dining hall full of non-stop talk of the candidates, future of our country, and future of our generation with CNN in your face on every TV you pass on your way to class.

Millennials have the world resting on our shoulders because we are the "voice of the future" and we are going to be "the ones to fix the world." No pressure though right?

You must find a positive in being in college and being exposed to people of all different backgrounds, views, political standpoints, ethnicities, and beliefs. It makes you a more well-rounded person and can help you truly form your views. However, there are also many people who use this experience as an opportunity to objectify and tear other people apart for their beliefs and views simply because they do not share the same ones as them.

if you are a millennial or a human being with common consideration and compassion for people of the same species you would see that the only way any problem in this nation is going to get solved is by being able to respect and show compassion towards others. If you are only going to perpetuate the division within our country by casting away and abusing people of opposing views, nothing is going to change. To be blatantly honest. We are a country founded on democracy and in case anyone forgot the textbook definition of democracy it is a system of government regulated by the whole population. To put it in even simpler terms, our country is controlled by our voice. We have a freedom of speech, let's use it. Instead of turning to hate, violence, and chaos, let's use the voice that we have to unite and fix the issues we all find in our country.

It sickens me to wake up and look at my phone and see friends and family in turmoil simply because of political views or beliefs. I don't know if it was just the way I was raised or simply because of the fact that I have compassion for others but I cannot physically harm, verbally abuse, or disgrace another human being simply because I do not share the same views as them. I refuse to continue the vicious cycle of hate, anger, and violence that is so prevalent in our country. It is time that we see beyond the skewed views of social media and the news and realize we are all human beings and bleed the same blood. Despite past actions and controversy, this is the year we need to be able to unite to create a better country for all Americans as one America.

If you are not happy with the presidential elect use your voice and your right to vote to make changes, but not at the expense of another human being's well-being. I recently read an article posted by a city EMT who spoke of a heart-breaking story. He had a critically ill patient in the cab of his emergency vehicle and had to re-route to reach the hospital and made his trip a total of 45 minutes and cost his patient his life because protests were blocking major roadways that accessed the hospital. His closing statement was "the protestors can explain to my patient's 4-year old daughter why she is now fatherless". I then scrolled further down to see a video of a middle-aged white male being physically abused and beaten, ripped out of car, and had his car stolen simply because he was accused of voting for Trump. After scrolling even further I saw a post of a young gay male who had had a bottle smashed over his head and another man yell in his face "We have a new president now fag." simply because he was on a date with another male. I then scrolled even further to see videos and pictures of Americans burning the American flag that my father, grandfather, cousins, and friends have put their lives on the line in unspeakable conditions to protect the rights of. Burning the American flag is not disrespecting the presidential elect that you do not agree with, it is disrespecting the thousands of men and women who have shed their blood to protect that flag and gave you the right to do such a repulsive thing as burn the very thing they lost their life for. Just think about that. I don't know when the people who spend day in and out, leave their families for months and years at a time, and risk their life to protect and serve our country became labeled as the bad guys. It is time to reevaluate your actions and truly think about who you are offending. If you choose to burn the very flag that I am sure at least one of your family members or friends have lost their life for or witnessed a friend lose their life for, then I do not respect you and consider you a part of the perpetuated hate in our country and I am not sorry for that. I then shut off my phone and did not look at it for another 24 hours because I was so deeply sickened by the actions, words, and hatefulness of fellow Americans. I should not have to worry about the health and safety of friends, family, and peers simply because of their occupation, skin color, sexual orientation, views, or courageous actions anymore. If you are going to base a movement off of making a change for "equality and love" then make sure the actions of the supporters exemplify these ideals and do not contradict them. We need a generation that is true to their words and brave enough to stand up as one and let go of their differences to revolutionize this country.

Millennials, we need to use our voice and our talents and our social media to spread love and unite to become one entity in this country to make a better change. I beg you to stop perpetuating the violence. Stop perpetuating the hate. Stop perpetuating the turmoil that is already overtaking our country. I believe that we can make the difference but not without letting go of the twisted and falsified ideals engrained in our heads by wrongful news articles and social media posts. It is time to stand up as one America and make a change because our country is begging for one.

Sincerely,

A millennial fearful of the future but strong in her belief of the power of God

Psalm 121: 1-2

"I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."