Last Sunday morning, just like any other day, I woke up, put my glasses on, and checked my phone. During my 10-minute vegetation state, my Washington Post app was going completely nuts and blowing up my notifications. Usually, I wait until lunch to read the news stories, but something seemed urgent. Something was definitely off.

Within minutes, I was trying to swallow the news of another tragic shooting -- this time at a gay bar in Orlando, Florida. From what the news sources explained, it was a hate crime committed by a man who pledged allegiance to ISIS. Now, I am not here to tell you guys what you already know; I am not a reporter and I am sure that all of you, someway or another, have done your own, independent research. However, in light of this horrific shooting, I am confident that our country is ready to tackle this problem and find a solution. For good.

I am not a United States politician, but it doesn’t take a Harvard graduate or certified genius to know that what happened last Sunday was completely and utterly vicious, immoral, and inhumane. We should not expect everyone to hold hands around a campfire and sing happy songs, but we should expect respect. Respect for opinions. Respect for values. Respect for choices.

What makes this shooting different, you ask? Logically, nothing. Nothing makes this shooting any different than what happened at Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, or Columbine. People died and people were hurt. Unfortunately, what makes this devastating attack different is that we continue to say, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families in mourning” and add temporary “#PrayFor_______” stickers on our profile pictures, without noting that there is a need for a deeper, more effective, outcry from Americans. Not to my surprise, when I checked my Facebook and Twitter feeds last Sunday, my timeline was booming with angry tweets, disturbing status updates, and, of course, people arguing over what we should do and how we should feel. Ultimately, these are temporary solutions to an ongoing, and quite possibly, permanent problem if we don’t do something.

Like I previously stated, I am not a United States politician or hold any position of authority in our government; I am just your average, millennial college student. Unfortunately, I do not have a magic algorithm or resolution to solve gun control, mental illness, or terrorism. However, I do have my word and my actions. I can peacefully protest. I can become more educated. I can openly write articles like this. I can agree to disagree. But, most importantly, I can vote. Although I do not have the power to sit in Washington, D.C., and plead my points on Capitol Hill, I can exercise the few rights I do have. With a presidential election vastly approaching, I beg you to vote. Please, please vote. I don’t even care which candidate you vote for, but vote for someone and do something. From what I have read online, almost everyone has an opinion on these controversial topics. It’s time we stop just simply saying how we feel and put our words to the test. After all, it’s our world -- shape it, or someone else will.

Only 60 percent of the eligible voting population in the United States votes during presidential election years. Additionally, only 40 percent of the eligible voting population in the United States votes during midterm election years.