We all know the results, but there are still people in shock and disbelief as the days go by farther from the actual elections. I know a lot of people our age were not expecting the person who did win to win, but it happened, and it is frightening to a lot of groups of people. Just know, there might be fear in your heart, but please, there are many support groups and people out there standing behind you and your rights. I am a woman, and my hopes for the future looked a little dim, but I knew anything too drastic because of him wouldn't happen. Our government is a system of checks and balances, ensuring that the President, Congress, or the Supreme Court do not have too much power, and do not derail. There is so much this man said he would want to do and thinks he can do, but if he ever wanted to implement those horrible policies, there are too many steps in place for those things to result in any sort of law. Also, there might be a Republican Senate and House, but there are quite a few of them who do not agree with Donald Trump, and do not want the same things he does. Hope that those who were voted into these positions are here for you, and want the best for the whole nation, and not just for personal gains.

These statements might not be the most helpful, I know I am not an oracle who can predict the future, but I hope some straight facts can make you feel a little calmer. I cannot tell you that everything will go smoothly, with how this has been going between the election, debates, and campaigns, that much is not really possible. I can, however, tell you that in order to make everything either stay the same, in terms of rights, or to make things progress (which might be a little more difficult) stand for your beliefs!! Please do not go and protest; I believe in peaceful protest, but against the new President is not going to change that he is still in office. Make sure to defend the rights you believe in, move forward in campaigns and, I don't personally know much about lobbying, but you can go and participate in public forums. Be the change you want to see.

Obviously, this seems ridiculous with the new circumstances, but there is always room to improve your local government, maybe even your state government. Make sure the laws that help you are still enacted and still being enforced. Go to Capitol Hill and watch what they do, learn the history and organization. Become an important part of this country by starting at the bottom, working your way up, and being the difference you think we need. He might have won and some, if not a lot of you, disagree with his values and policies; but, there is always a variety of ways in which you can make sure the laws that previous governments have enacted, stay laws.