Nov. 8, 2016 started out as any regular day. It was a day that I was having hopeful thoughts that Hillary Clinton was going to be the first female president of the United States. It was a day that I was also walking around on eggshells. The reason was this: Barack Obama was no longer going to be our president and I was emotional because of how fast eight years went by.

As the day went on there were murmurs and whispers as to how the election results were going to turn out. Later that day I was sitting in the library, and the election results were posted on a television screen for many to see. As I took a peek to see who was in the lead my heart dropped. I was asking myself, "What the hell is going on and why?!"

I called my Dad because at the time my anxiety was going through the roof about what was actually going to happen. He told me specifically to look out for certain states and to just take a deep breath. As much as I tried to get those thoughts in my head, I was in full panic mode. I knew that I had to get home and be in a calming environment. I also had a paper due the next day that I was not close to finishing which made things even more stressful.

On the way home I FaceTimed my friend from the city and she was watching the results in disbelief as well. Both of us were shocked and scared as to how the race was going to play out. Hours were going by and no amount of pep talk or jokes was going to make me feel better at what was going to happen within the next hour.

Finally, the results were in and in at that moment, everything changed. My heart dropped and I began the start of what were going to be some long, uncontrollable crying sessions. I couldn't believe it. I was simply in disbelief that this was where our country was going. Donald Trump was going to be our next president and in that moment, at the risk of sounding dramatic, I felt that all hope was lost. In that moment I felt that being a person of color did not matter anymore.

Especially being a woman of color, I was completely gutted by the results of what was going to happen to our country. The following days were tough as I was going through campus and public realizing that many individuals were about to show their true colors--from individuals I went to high school with to even people on my own campus. It felt like a nightmare.

Now here we are 365 days later. As angry as I was, as hurt as I was feeling, I can honestly say that my dad was right. Things certainly played out exactly how they did. In the past couple of months, I realized many important things about the whole election.

You can't change someone's view no matter how much they're your "friend." Instead of arguing, start the conversation out small, and lastly...don't let politics make or break you.

Although some of you didn't give two... you know what... about the election as a whole, and there may be some of you who believe that nothing is going wrong...WAKE UP! It's happening! At the end of the day you can't make someone hate someone because you want them to, but what you can do is help them realize.

For all my people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, Muslims and Hispanics, I promise we CAN stick together no matter what, and we WILL! I am proud to be who I am and I am proud of what I stand for; I can rest assured that NOTHING will change that!

For those who are reading this saying to themselves "Man, all she ever talks about is politics and blah blah blah, GIVE IT A REST," I hope I'm not threatening anyone's white fragility with this statement. I am a proud woman of color raised by two West Indian parents.

I will not "leave" the United States since I apparently "hate" it so much, and no one absolutely NO ONE will take that away from me!