Welp, it is official. Hillary Clinton is the presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. After months of speeches, public appearances and numerous debates, Clinton clinched the nomination, knocking out Bernie Sanders. So, instead of spilling hatred out to the two nominees, I wanted to take the time to thank Sanders.

When Sanders first announced he was running for president, the media laughed at him, thinking he wouldn't even receive 12 votes, or make a difference whatsoever. But he proved them wrong, winning over 13 million votes and stealing 22 of the state’s nominations from Clinton. The truth is, Sanders stole our hearts and made a huge difference in this country. Even though he didn't receive the nomination, he started many conversations that this country needed to have. He is genuine, kind, determined, strong, intelligent and he fights for what he believes in until he is blue in the face. Sanders gave a voice to the people of this country who don’t get the chance to be heard. Thank you, Sanders, for speaking on behalf of the poor, the working class, women, minorities, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, global warming, young adults and so many more.

Thank you for bringing hope to the young people of this country. Without a doubt, Sanders captivated the hearts and souls of the younger generation in America, me included. He gave us something to believe in. He opened our eyes to the greediness of the American government. He stood up for us in a country who continues to shit on the millennials. Mostly, he was a breath of fresh air in a world where politicians are dishonest, greedy and overall fake. In a place where politicians spew out bullshit, he was real, honest and deep. When he spoke, you could actually feel the passion in his voice. He actually wants to make America great again. He wants to see America move 10 steps forward, not jump 10 steps back. He is the president this country needed.

Thank you, Sanders, for pushing your pride aside and endorsing Clinton. It is no shocker that Clinton and Sanders are far from friends, but Sanders was able to push their differences aside in order to see the bigger picture: that this country simply cannot elect Donald Trump. It takes a real man to accept his defeat so graciously, to stand in front of delegates who turned him away and join forces instead of running away. Now Sanders is still fighting for what is right, pleading to his supporters to vote for Clinton in November and to keep Trump out of the White House.

Lastly, thank you Bernie Sanders for being so darn cute! I mean, come on, his smile is contagious! Thank you Bernie Sanders for being the light in this election. Because of you, conversations that this country needed to have were brought to our attention. Thank you for never giving up and always fighting for what you believe in. I will sure as hell miss you.Thank you for making me feel the Bern.