On Tuesday night, I felt sick to my stomach as I watched the election results populate. My friends and I exchanged looks of worry, defeat, and confusion. I could hardly go to bed because the results presented me with an unexpected and overwhelming anxiety about my country's future.

The next day, I walked to classes and caught myself looking at middle aged white males with “Make America Great Again" hats - or even without any hats - and wanted to scream and tell them this was all their fault. I looked at my Indian classmate and wanted to cry. I wanted to go home and hug my gay best friend.

Despite all the doors I'd knocked on canvassing in the previous weeks, my candidate still lost. I felt like all my hard work was meaningless.

Despite the fact that she had won the popular vote, she still lost...I felt like my newly-gained right to vote was meaningless.

And finally, despite the fact that our country has spent the past centuries trying to rid our country of racism, sexism and discrimination, the person opposing those things still lost...I felt like all of our progress was completely, utterly meaningless.

I wanted to share every single article I read bashing Trump and I wanted to change my major to journalism immediately because I had so much to say about every single topic. I tried to focus on my homework but failed miserably because my mind was consumed with the election; my heart consumed with hatred, disgust, and desperation.

I sat and thought about how, just months before, I never would have thought twice about what the stranger next to me's political views might be. I would've never mentally tied someone's race to their political party or their actions to their political opinions.

Just four months ago, I wouldn't have felt angry when someone told me they were voting for a different candidate than I planned to. I have so many friends from home that have different political ideas as I do, and I would have never let that impact our relationship.

Realizing this scared me - I didn't like the judgement and coldness that was growing in me and taking over. I didn't like the way it seemed this same judgment had infected the whole nation.

At the same time, it now seemed impossible to not defend my beliefs. It seemed impossible to settle for something, or someone, that was opposed to everything I value politically, spiritually, and fundamentally.

Then I walked into the hall on the way to my professor’s office, and saw this on the wall...

The picture wasn't just posted for the election. It was hanging in a random little hallway that rarely receives traffic. It was nailed in and faded and the graphics were outdated - I could tell that it had been there for years. It was an unexpected gem, and like so many things of my life are - it was my sign from God.

It read:

In the world and at home, you have the opportunity and the responsibility to help make the choices which will determine the greatness of the nation...
You live in the most privileged nation on earth.
You are the most privileged citizens of that privileged nation; for you have been given the opportunity to study and learn...
You can use your enormous privilege and opportunity to seek purely private pleasure and gain. But history will judge you, and as the years pass, you will ultimately judge yourself, on the extent to which you have used your gifts to lighten and enrich the lives of your fellow men.
In your hands, not with the presidents or leaders, is the future of your world and the fulfillment of the best qualities of your own spirit. - Robert F. Kennedy

I was late for my meeting, but I didn't care - I read it. Then I read it again. Then one more time. Then I took a picture to capture it because I wanted to read those words over and over and over.

The words uplifted, inspired, and rejuvenated my momentarily cold and desperate soul. I knew I didn't stumble upon it then by coincidence.

In the divided chaos I felt like I was drowning in, these words seemed to be universal truth. They didn't embody the harsh feelings I felt in the moment, but rather they embodied what I knew to be true. They embodied my intuition and inspired me to act on it.

The quote struck me so hard because it reminded me of how blessed I am. How, no matter what happens, the world is still spinning and flowing with goodness and happiness. How many people share my viewpoints.

It reminded me of how, despite my understanding, my lowest of lows were the turning points of my life and have made me a better person. How we always overcome. How, no matter what, there is nothing that will happen that is not in God's plan.

It reminded me of how blessed I am as an American. To have a voice at all. To get to write blog posts and talk about my opinions and knock on doors and be an advocate.

It reminded me of blessed I am as a student. How so many people would die for my homework and stress and studying. How I get to be surrounded by hardworking, intelligent, inspiring young people every single day.

The words reminded me that I can sit and complain about what I don't like in the world, or I can do something about it. As president Obama eloquently stated in his speech, "To the young people, who got into politics for the first time, and may be disappointed by the results...You have to stay encouraged. Don't get cynical."

I can accept my candidate's defeat and be mad, complacent, or compromise my morals. Or I can accept my candidates defeat whole heartedly and continue to tenaciously fight for what I believe in.

I am reminded that I am capable and deserving and have the right to take action.

As the quote explains, if I don't take action, the world might not notice...but by holding back my opinions I wouldn't be being true to myself. And despite how innocent and safe it may be, not being true to myself or passionate about life will eventually leave me more unfulfilled and unfaithful than anything.

Like this little gem on the wall says, the future of our world is in OUR hands. It's on "the extent to which you have used your gifts to lighten and enrich the lives of your fellow men." It's in every decision we make in every moment of every day. It's in the way we treat strangers and loved ones and ourselves. It's the way we treat our neighbors like ourselves, even when we don't think they deserve it.

It's in the way we use our money, our minds, our time, and our faith.

It is not presidents or leaders that can hold "the best qualities of your spirit."

We, as individuals have the power to create change, and we should rejoice in, cherish, and exercise that privilege.

So I will unapologetically raise my voice. I will volunteer, I will honestly and vulnerably write. I will continue to stand up for what I believe in because - like this quote reminded me - my spirit is far, far too steadfast and faithful to be weakened be by any outer force.

My spirit will stay alive.