On November 8, 2016, I sat in a dorm room of registered college-aged voters to watch as the votes of the American people played out. I watched as states lit up blue and red with red, eventually, becoming the prominent color. I watched as every news anchor on every channel I was flipping through became somber and quiet wondering how a Trump Presidency was possible despite all their predictions. They all wondered what they missed because they were so confident in a Clinton victory. I watched the outcry of my campus and I listened as I heard both joyful screams and body-racking sobs. I saw a division so clear between absolute glee and absolute terror at the outcome of the first major election I participated in.

I woke up the next morning to one thought: What do we do now?

The answer is different for everyone. But, for me, the best I can do is an article you're about to read on how we heal this severely broken nation.

I sent out questions to both Trump and Clinton supporters to better understand their excitement or their fear.

Among Hillary voters, I found a common theme. Their main focuses seemed to revolve around social issues with a bleak outlook on what our country will look like in four years.

"Our country has been working since the 1800s to give rights to every race and walk of life, regardless of religion or social class, or sexuality and I fear that this will all change."

"My problems living in a predominantly white country are going to be ignored..."

"I think in 4 years this country will be so divided that we begin to almost mirror the (C)ivil (W)ar times. I don't see how a nation with such drastically different ideas can live in peace during future times."

"I guess the only thing left to do is to try and get it through people's heads that all people deserve the love and equality white people receive in America."

One of the other main concerns is the Republican's strong hold on not only the presidency but the House and the Senate as well.

So what about Hillary appealed to voters? "Hillary Clinton maintained her professionalism and outlined very important points such as border security but not deportation of immigrants and support for some gun control measures." A few responders even spoke of her experience in a political sense but it always seemed to come back to socially centered issues. "She was devoted to decreasing the gender wage gap...accepting immigration police, supporting reproductive rights for women by supporting planned parenthood, supportive of gay marriage and supporting...equal rights and treatments of every citizen."

How were Trump supporters feeling in the face of their underdog victory? What explanation did they have as to why the reality star claimed the presidential victory?

"People are out of work, and politicians are out of touch with the problems facing the average American."

"His statements are weird, but there is a minute amount of truth value to them."

"In complete honesty, as a brown male I have never felt safer than as I do now...I was scared sharing my politic(al) views not because the majority of people don't agree with mine, but because there was no longer a separation...I now feel like I will be represented as a person. Not a member of a political party"

It seemed as if there was a difficulty understanding why anyone would cast a vote for Donald Trump. So what about the businessman earned their vote? "Donald Trump earned my vote by being strong with not fearing to fight the battle and telling us just what he felt about our government's system." The majority of responses were based on economic concerns. Several respondents were small business owners."My family owns a local business and Trump promises to help the middle class, so hopefully our company will flourish under his control." Another main common thread throughout answers healthcare concerns. "Donald Trump earned my vote because he is going to repeal a broken healthcare plan that is causing my family to lose health insurance to the astronomical costs of rising premiums and coverage so bad it isn't worth having." It seemed, however, Trump supporters were crossing their fingers hoping the man the media hated will prove to be a phenomenal leader with quotes such as, "I pray my vote went to a man that is going to prove American wrong about him," coming up often

What does the main takeaway from Trump supporter's comments seem to be?

"Saying I am a bigot, a racist, a homophobe for voting for Trump is them being in the wrong, not me. I am so much more than the media's headline phrases describing Trump's voters."

So what does this information mean? If someone voted for Clinton, it can be safe to assume they are very concerned about social issues. If someone voted for Trump, it can be safe to assume they are very concerned about the economic state of our country. Any other assumptions but those are sicknesses our already plagued nation can not afford.

With such a divide in our nation, the only way to heal it is to take the main concerns of each side and exemplify them. People are not defined by their political parties, it only outlines issues they care about. The social issues Clinton supporters so deeply care about should be given due consideration just as the main economic concerns of Trump supporters are likely to. As long as both of the beating hearts at the core of these campaigns are being attended to, each party should be happy despite the main party in power.

One supporter said it best, "I have so much faith in the American people and I just hope Donald Trump proves he deserves to hold the title of OUR President." We are ONE nation. We are the UNITED States of America. Although we were presented with two vastly different candidates this election, the answer is not to continue to play into our differences. Although their campaigns, their beliefs, their positions were very different, the American people have made their choice. We need to stand behind our new President-elect and voice our opinions. What he needs isn't protests proclaiming "Not my President" but rather an explanation of the beliefs you hold so dear that you don't believe he understands. Make your voice heard, but do so respectfully. We have a wound in our nation and the answer isn't to expose more bone and rub salt in it.

We need to heal and we can't do that until everyone is willing to listen. So I end this article with a dare, a chain of kindness if you will. Whether you're a Clinton supporter or whether you're a Trump supporter find someone of the opposite party and try to understand why. Let Clinton supporters explain their fears of social destruction and let Trump supporters explain they're not racist, xenophobic, homophobic, or sexist but rather economically struggling. One of the main taglines of the Clinton election was "Love trumps hate." So be kind, spread some love, and be willing to listen. I can't help but feel as if I am preaching to the choir or shouting into a chaotic, screaming crowd begging them to love each other but this is it. Our country is on its deathbed and something has got to give. This article is all I've have to contribute, to give voices to both sides and to express my own opinions on how we heal this country.

Bond over the fact that you're not just a Clinton supporter and you're not just a Trump supporter. You are an AMERICAN.