I am hurt.

I will make this short because everyone is entitled to their opinion, which I fully respect, and everyone is exhausted from politics, which I fully agree with, and we have elected a president and this is something we can't change and have to give him a chance.

Last night I sat in front of my television, as a survivor of sexual assault, and watched as the American people elected a man in the middle of a rape trial, who openly bragged about sexually assaulting women, as the President of the United States. It's not something I am ready to fully talk about but the severity of these circumstances have made me believe that it's something I have to identify with. For me, this moment felt as though people's money and guns were more important than being stripped of a part of myself without my consent. I know this is hard to understand for most but that is as close as I can get to describing it. For me, you looked me in the face and told me you did not care.

As tough as it was, it was not just my experience that hurt me. I watched as my homosexual best friend called me crying, asking "what am I going to do?" He had to wonder if he will be able to hold the basic human right of loving another. I listened to my roommate and best friend as she asked me how she was to tell her special education students that their president openly mocked people with disabilities. I sat in my Spanish class (of mostly Hispanic students) and watched everyone in that classroom cry as we looked around at each other in disbelief.

My Spanish teacher is originally from Spain and had beautiful words of wisdom to say. She was shocked at our country but inspired us to take it all day by day. She told us that it's up to us now. We have to take matters in our own hands and stand up for those who need a voice. We have to stop discrimination and harassment when we see it. The world needs love right now and that is all we can give it.

I know that I will have to tell my future daughter about this day. But I also know that I will tell my future daughter of my grandmother who raised 15 children. I will tell her of my friend's mother who is a state senator. I will tell her of my boss who started her own company and made the Inc 500 in only its 5th year. I will tell her of my mother who still continues to pray and tell my family to pray when even the worst things happen. "For the kingdom is the Lord's, And he rules over the nations" -Psalm 22:28.

I know I am one person and I know I am just one voice in a large crowd of election chaos right now but I just need people to understand. I would not be able to sleep tonight if I didn't explain to at least some people why my heart is completely broken right now.

So now we must take each day as it comes. Please be kind to each other. Please keep in mind that everyone is going through something. Please stand up for people who need help. Please remember to be human. Let's work to always keep progressing.