Tuesday, November 8th.

That was election day, but the election ran long and hard before this date; months upon months of rallying, informing, inspiring and vision sharing. Actually, April 12th, 2015 was when Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her candidacy for president. June 16th, 2015 Donald J. Trump announced his candidacy, and that's when the race started.

For months if you were a registered Democrat you received call after call, door knock after door knock, and were stopped on your way into the grocery store, Walmart, or your local student union asking if you were registered to vote. For months your friends endlessly posted on Facebook and Twitter and reminded you the importance of this election.

For months, the homophobia and sexism of Donald Trump was put on blast and put right in front of your face to see. His blatant disrespect for minorities and women was plastered on billboards, CNN, and magazine ads. Campaign ad after campaign ad was run explaining how he was going to ban immigrants, disrespect women and nominate unqualified people for his cabinet.

For months this was plastered in front of your face. Fast forward to November 8th, 2016-- Donald Trump was elected. It was a surprise to everyone, even his supporters. Officially inaugurated into the presidency on January 20th, and now that all of his promises are coming to life, people are surprised and have decided to care.

Let me say, I'm on your side. I care. I don't agree with a single thing he has done, but I cared before as well. I cared when this was just a threat and not reality. I'm not saying because I cared before January it makes me any better than anyone else, because it doesn't. When you decide to care does not determine your level of compassion or how viable it is-- my point is, don't stop caring and don't let it become something easily forgotten.

My fear is that four years is a long time, it's a long time for a multitude of things to become commonplace. It's a long time to forget all of these things are not acceptable, and it's a long time to fight. But don't stop. Don't stop caring and don't stop trying.

Next election season, continue caring before the threat becomes reality-- and keep persisting and resisting.