As I sat in total disbelief watching the election results roll in till 3 AM a million thoughts raced through my head. How was this possible, how did we as a country elect Donald Trump, and most importantly what comes next? I think that was the most pressing issue on my mind, the future. I’ve always known that I wanted to be a problem solver, fix the ever-present issues in our society and it's one of the main reasons I decided to major in Political Science. Being a Poli Sci major means that I’ve dealt with family and friends rolling their eyes joking about how just maybe I’ll make a difference in the transportation department of the lowest level of government. And maybe there was a time when I thought they were right. I mean I knew I wasn't the next Leslie Knope, I wouldn’t be satisfied working Parks and Recreation with unmotivated co-workers but I also knew that the chance of me changing the world were extremely low. That all changed when the headlines read President-elect Trump. While coming to terms with this news a sense of motivation and pride washed over me. In that moment I realized that being a Political Science not only meant making a change in the world, but having the ability to write history. Using every sense of your being to work towards a just cause, and fighting harder when things don't go as planned. Watching popular votes and electoral votes roll in Tuesday night solidified an idea that had never occurred to me before. What I’m working towards now: a college degree, a job in Public Policy, I have the ability to make history. I could be responsible for changing bits and pieces of history, or even something as historical as Trumps presidency. My major, although sometimes ridiculed for being “a waste of time” can also be something powerful. Something that sets up the world we live in, a more accepting world, and a world I can help create. Election day left me worried about the future of our country and a bit disappointed in some of the people around me. But I found light in all of the negativity, a sign that I’m choosing a life that can inspire the next generation. A Political Science degree now holds extreme weight in society and I’m proud to say that I will be part of the generation that uses our knowledge to change the world for the better.
