By the time, this column is read, the heavily anticipated 2016 election will be over, and we the American people will have our new President-elect. Some of us will be happy with the choice and others won’t. Either way, none of us can change the fact that the American people have spoken and that there is a new leader of our nation.

I actually find it funny, that in the first issue of the Maroon-News published after the results of the election are announced, I still feel the need to discuss the election. An election, which I am so happy, is over. I know some of you feel the same.

In keeping up with the election, I have read countless news articles and opinion editorials, poll data, and in my keeping up, I find the occasional article that poses questions like “What will happen after the election?”, “What if this, What if that?”. While this speculation of the future is natural, and is something we are all doing as we accept this new Presidential-elect, it seems to me that there is a general consensus of uncertainty, regardless of who wins, which I feel sets a precedent in the wake of a presidential election.

To be honest, if this election has done anything, it has stressed me out, as well as terrified me and completely altered my sense of optimism for the future, regardless of who comes out of this election as the winner. 

In  Frank Bruni’s New York Times article, “Why This Election Terrifies Me,” he states “Election Day will redeem and settle nothing this time around. No matter who is declared the victor, tens of millions of Americans will be convinced — truly convinced — that the outcome isn’t legitimate. Whether balloons fall on Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, there will be bolder divisions in America than there were at the start of it all and even less faith in the country’s most important institutions.” This is a small part of his article, coupled with a cartoon of a car flying off a ramp (calendar sticker of November 8) into mid air: pretty much illustrating exactly how I feel at the moment.

These are my takeaways from Frank Bruni’s quote: “isn’t legitimate,” “bolder divisions,” and “less faith.” You may be wondering: “Well, Sydney, do you have any suggestions on how we should go about this?” My response to that would be “No, reader, I do not.” But I do know that despite my uncertainty about the future, I do know that I am going to do my part to make my world better. Because one candidate can’t change it all.

Whether we are going to “Make America great again” or say “I’m with her,” the issue is not really about the candidate but rather how we are going to work together to make the change that each side desperately says they are willing to make. And I think that’s all we can do. Try to make those “bolder divisions” a little less bold and turn the little faith in our institutions to more faith in each other, which may be speculative, naïve and corny, but hey it just may work.

But then my question to you is: What are you going to do to make it better?

Signed,

The Girl who is trying to be optimistic after the election