I am greatly disappointed in myself when I say that I did not preform my civic duty as an American citizen. I did not cast a vote. I did not use the political voice that I have a right to. Obviously, this will not be the case when the Election of 2020 comes in four years, but in the meantime I will use the voice that writing for the Odyssey has given a millennial like myself, and many others.

I want nothing more than to delete every stitch of social media, so I can pretend like this monumental divide among the American people doesn't exist. But now is not the time to hide. Now is the time to buckle down, America, and learn how to discuss, not argue, with one another. Now is the time to swear to educate yourselves on the candidates running for offices all throughout the country if that isn't a practice you have already sworn to.

The Presidential Election of the United States should not be treated as if your candidate winning is similar to winning a game of football. We should not be against each other, America. We should be for each other. So let's stand together. Where is our unity?

Something I want to stress to my friends/family or anyone else who happens to read this, is the fact that right now, we need to spread love and positivity. We have fellow Americans who are scared for their well- being and if you are fortunate enough to not be in that category then I am happy for you-- because it is a horrible thing to feel uncomfortable with your life and to feel scared to openly be who you are (embracing your culture and/or sexuality, to name a few).

Our fellow Americans (our children) are committing suicide because they feel so outwardly alienated from this society in the wake of the election.

People of color, even legal ones, feel they are not welcome in this country. I've already heard stories of them being told to sit at the back of the bus.

Women are being assaulted in public and face having the right to their own bodies challenged.

How we continue from here defines us as Americans. Do we offer our hand to the people who are scared and show the purest form of human compassion? Or do we turn our heads and ignore the pain and suffering of many people so we can live a happily oblivious life? It is up to you.

Whether you voted for Trump, or for Hillary, or for a third party candidate, or you didn't vote at all, I encourage you to put the purest form of human compassion on display, simply because we are American. Spreading this disease of hate paints us in a negative light to the rest of the world and I know that is not who we are. Don't let it be.

With all this being said, I want anyone who is reading this and may be feeling trapped to know that I have two ears that work very well, and I will listen to anything you have to say! Whether you feel scared or alone or like there is no hope-- there are always people who will listen.