During the 2012 election, I was a junior in high school. My AP Government class dedicated an evening to watching the debate at school. Although we were sixteen and couldn’t vote, it was still exciting to watch the debate. President Obama had had four years under his belt already; most of us hoped he would be reelected. His rhetoric and knowledge were hard to match. Although there were aspects of Mitt Romney’s character I disliked and I disagreed with many of his policies, I recognized that he was putting up a good fight. Both candidates had a wealth of policy knowledge, years of education and a sufficient political background. Even among those who couldn’t vote like my peers and me, the election was engaging. I couldn’t wait for it to be 2016; I couldn’t wait to vote in my first presidential election.

Now, the election is just around the corner. Although I participated in live-tweeting the debate like many of my peers, it was mostly a facade - behind it, disappointment. I watched as Secretary Clinton tried her hardest to respond to Donald Trump’s nonsensical statements and ignore his interruptions. I watched as she maintained composure when she was not taken seriously, despite displaying that she is entirely qualified. Presented before the American public was a woman who had dedicated her entire life to politics; her opponent had probably never read the document behind him, the Declaration of Independence.

There is nothing engaging about the 2016 election - and I don’t mean Hillary Clinton’s lack of enthusiasm. I do not think “fun” is a prerequisite for assuming the most important role in the United States. It’s exhausting; as I watched, I realized there is potential the man challenging Hillary Clinton could become president. I’m merely a third-year political science student and I could have probably handled the debate better than Donald Trump did. The upcoming election is like an inevitable test in which you don’t know how you’ll fare; Hillary could win and it would be great, but what if she doesn’t? What if the spokesperson for every ignorant, hateful and uninformed American becomes elected? The man who has declared he would betray our allies and consider working with our enemies? The man who has probably not ever read even the preamble to the Declaration of Independence and has never considered fundamental ideas in American politics - like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (so long as it does not infringe on others’ rights).

I’m a Democrat; there’s no denying that. However, I like bipartisanship and I respect Republicans. I have joked about the election and Donald Trump, but beneath all that is fear. The most unqualified man in America could win the most important office, the face of American foreign policy, the figure Americans trust in crisis. I picture anyone but Donald Trump; I may not be a Republican, but I wish their candidate was qualified and trustworthy. I wish that there was not a chance the United States would be in terrible hands. Regardless of policy or ideology, Donald Trump is not fit to be the President of the United States.

In my political science classes, we discuss how difficult it is to be engaged in this election - particularly, after the debate. Donald Trump did not make a single coherent point; instead, he name-called, interrupted Secretary Clinton and proved his knowledge of domestic and international affairs is limited, perhaps nonexistent. It is difficult to summarize what his points were because there weren’t any. It felt like an SNL skit, but it was real and happening before the entire nation’s eyes. Unlike in 2012 when both candidates were qualified, this election isn’t exciting - it’s just scary.

Secretary Clinton may not be everyone’s favorite candidate, but she is absolutely fit to be president. As I watched the debate, I felt badly for her. It was difficult for her to shine because she was interrupted throughout the entire debate. There was no sophisticated discourse, no detailed policy discussions, no healthy debate in which both parties make points rooted in reality - and that wasn’t Hillary Clinton’s fault. She came prepared and persevered, just as she always does. It is just a shame her opponent is so incompetent.