Yes, I’m writing about the election and the new administration again. And yes, you can just as well close this page and move on, but it’s probably one of my favorite things to talk and rant about, and with passion comes writing pieces you’re proud of. You might read it as me still being bitter about Hillary losing (yes, I am) or as something that could be labelled "liberal tears" or the work of a "snowflake". But what I hope you'll get from reading this is a sense of hope that progress is still possible, because that's the kind of hope I've been looking for.

What I’ve been feeling a lot of regret about as we see the end of Trump’s first 6 months come and go is my involvement. And while being a college student doesn’t leave much room for time to get in on the resistance, that’s not the best excuse. But as I watch the headlines pop up on my phone or on the news about the latest from the White House, I find myself retreating.

That retreat I’m feeling is something I first blamed on not spending enough time understanding the news, the developments from the White House, and what was really going on. I think I’ve been discouraged. But what I think I’m truly feeling is a lack of enough hope to fix the problems we see still plaguing our streets and corrupting our government on my own, and the lack of faith in myself and my ability to do anything to make a difference from my own place in life.

I can’t be the only person who is feeling this way. So, because of that, I wanted to share some of the things that have kept me going, kept me inspired, and ways I think we should all stay involved to keep progress moving.

Firstly, if you can’t handle the chaos that fills our headlines from the White House and Congress these days, keep the faith by reading local news and finding ways to make an impact. Local heroes, local progress, and more positivity can be found in your local paper or within news sources on the statewide level.

Next, if you struggle with the idea of what damage can be done by the current administration, focus on the good that could come from the darker times. We’ve rallied a resistance, we’re finding unity, and we’re seeing through the flaws of an administration that claimed to be for the people when they really aren’t.

Never forget, too, to speak up. It feels like we’re falling into a period of being afraid to talk politics and keeping our distance from the tough conversations. But those are so important to have for us to make progress and get anywhere. Speak up for the people and causes that are important to you and find ways to make compromise and talk about the tougher issues.

Get to work on the grassroots front. We can’t all pass legislation, spend our days calling our congressmen and women, etc. But if you start small, work locally, and start with the grassroots organizations that are people-oriented and issue-oriented, you’ll find ways to make a difference in the greater political sphere of things.

See what your community needs. Some of the biggest issues that we are facing in the government have real people, local struggles, and community problems at the heart of them. Whether that means donating your time, helping someone you see as you walk the streets, supporting kids and families, or just doing your part to recycle and keep the community clean, there are things to do in our own backyards. It’s important to see that our cities and families are at the heart of what is troubling us in politics today, and if we can focus on those fundamentals, we’ll be able to clearly see how we need to move forward and find compromises.

Above all else, it’s important that we be kind. There doesn’t seem to be much kindness left on the news and in politics these days. It’s all brutal and lacking much empathy. But we have a generation of kids growing up with President Trump and seeing all of this unfold. We owe it to them to show that there is still good out there and that it isn’t always confusing and complicated. They deserve that.

As I write this I still find that in my heart I’m unsure to approach the world and politics, things that I used to have passion for. And I really still do have that passion, but the state of the White House seems to have soured that passion. But I have to remind myself, like the kids I see growing up now, that there’s hope, there is good, and you have to keep the faith and start small to make a difference, in any world.