This Tuesday, I will be voting in a presidential election for the first time. I should be feeling elated and looking forward to the day, especially since the first time I am voting, it will be for a woman. Instead, I am scared. The fact that there is a chance that Donald Trump could become president is a nerve-wracking one, to say the least. When I first heard that Trump was going to be running in the presidential race, I thought that there was no way he could become the Republican candidate. I knew that there are ignorant, offensive people in this country, but I thought for sure that they would be outnumbered. Now, with the election so close, I am terrified of a future with Trump as president.

For those of you who disagree with both candidates, I understand. I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of Hillary; I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primaries. But if you are not voting for Hillary, or are voting for a third-party candidate, I urge you to think about what that could mean. You may think that you are doing the moral thing by not voting for either candidate, but will it be worth it if Trump wins? Now is not the time for a protest vote; in my eyes, there has never been a candidate as radically offensive as Donald Trump. The fact is, either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will become president. No one else has even the slightest chance.

We can't let Trump win. It's not enough to share articles about him or express distaste for him, we need to actually vote, and encourage others to vote as well. And for those of you who plan to vote for Trump, I ask you to reconsider. A country where Trump becomes president would set back so much of our progress as a nation. He is not supportive of a majority of Americans. He has insulted countless groups of people and individuals alike, and he does not care about us. All he has done this election is spew hatred, and that is not going to change if he gets elected. Think about what is best for the United States and vote for Hillary.