Like a lot of people, I’m angry. I’m an upper-middle-class white woman, getting a private college education, and I have every right to be angry. I know there are a million articles about the election circling the internet right now, coming from people of all opinions on the election results. Some are gloating, some are trying their best to defend the crippled Republican party. Others are furiously insulting anyone who voted for Trump, others are just straight up sad and terrified for what might happen to them and people they care about.

But I don’t want this article to be like those. I want this to be hopeful, to restore some faith in humanity, to remind people that even though Trump is president and the possibilities that come with that are scary, there are good people in this world that will show love in the face of hate. People that are there to help those most affected by his presidency, wonderful people that are doing their best to find unity in this time of extreme divisiveness.

But for a minute here, I’m going to let some anger go. I heard about and experienced some pretty aggravating things, just in the first 48 hours following the election. Things that show me some of the terrible cultural changes that are already happening with a Trump presidency.

My political science professor cried in class today because she was so sad that a man who says things like “grab them by the pussy” would become the leader of this country. Sharing the statistic that 53% of white women voted for Trump dropped more than a few jaws today. A Filipino friend of mine was blatantly mocked by a Trump supporter just after the election. A Muslim woman had her hijab ripped off in a grocery store and was told that wasn’t allowed here. LGBTQ people at Western Washington University have been insulted by Trump supporters, and that’s one of the most liberal and accepting campuses I’ve heard of. People are scared to go home for Thanksgiving and having to face their Trump-supporting family members, for fear of being ridiculed.

And then there's the cherry on top, the real fuel for my anger. My little sister is a senior in high school, in my rather small hometown outside of Seattle. Even though it is in the liberal section of Washington, it is probably about half and half liberal and conservative politically. So I knew things might get a little weird after this election, no matter who won. But I didn’t know it would get this bad. My sister is openly lesbian and has honestly been well-accepted since she came out. But yesterday, less than 24 hours after Trump and his conversion-therapy-supporting running mate were elected, a guy decided to be an idiot. I guess he felt that he now had the right to make bigoted comments about my sister’s sexuality in the middle of class.

These are just the stories I’ve heard from my small group of connections in the first 48 hours. I know it’s a time of extremes for everybody, and it may or may not level out in a while, but really? These negative cultural changes are already real because 3 days ago this type of hateful language was not validated. Now the President of the United States and his running mate are individuals that have used and endorsed it, so now people think they can use it too and it's completely okay. Frankly, it’s disgusting.

So yes, obviously I'm angry, but I have been doing my absolute best to find the good. I know that we won't get anywhere in this world with hate. Change comes with acceptance, compromise, and love. Hillary's catchphrase that has been going around, "Love trumps hate," is the perfect mantra to have. I've seen so much beautiful acceptance and love shown since the election, and so many people have shown me that we need to have hope for our country, even if we feel like there isn't any. My faith in humanity was shaken, but a few individuals have given me reassurance and helped to restore it.

Hillary Clinton gave a beautiful speech the morning after her loss that was oh so sad, but also encouraged the people to wait and see. She told her heartbroken supporters to keep fighting for the causes they believe in, but to work together with those that might disagree with them. To unite our country rather than divide it further. President Obama gave a similar speech, telling the people to give Trump a chance, and look to acceptance and unity rather than hate.

The president of Whitworth University, Beck Taylor, sent out a wise and well-said email encouraging love and support on campus in this possibly divisive time. He recognized that we have diverse political opinions and backgrounds on campus, and because of that we have to be careful in how we all react to the results of the election. No matter our political leanings, we have to show that we care deeply about each and every one of our fellow students.

My faith in humanity has been restored even further with some simple conversations I've had with friends in the last week. A cultural diversity advocate in my residence hall has been working really hard to make sure our campus is a place where everyone can feel safe, even though minorities and international students might not feel so safe right now. A very Republican friend of mine called his gay roommate to say that he would be there for him and support him, even if the country didn't anymore. Two friends, one in person and one from across the country, listened patiently to my ranting and then did their best to reassure me, saying that God has a plan, and even though we might not be happy with it right now, God will make sure that everything is alright in the end.

Basically, people care, people can be trusted. All people? No. But enough of them. We can find unity in a country that is more divided than it has been in a long time. In the face of near-violent protests across the country, we can look for unity, and in the face of bigotry and hate speech we will show love. It will be hard, and everything won't be perfect over the next four years. I think everyone can agree on that.

But more than anything else, I have faith in people, and people can unite this country in spite of the divisiveness of politics. People of completely different opinions can come together and find love and hope in the face of division.