Prior to the election, I heard that some students were going to isolate themselves if the results weren’t what they expected, and I completely understood why. Within this past week, I’ve seen fewer students in all of my classes, proving that many people are possibly doing exactly what they said they would.

A lot of those that I’ve spoken to have people they care about in other states, and they’re rightfully worried about the trajectories of their lives. With the future of women’s reproductive freedoms, immigration law, imperialism, LGBTQIA+ rights, and countless other issues in a vulnerable position, many students have expressed that their fears are being accompanied by feelings of loneliness and even stress.

These emotions after elections are extremely common, especially after the one we just had. The future of America is up in the air, and there are countless political decisions coming in the next few years that can affect every part of our lives. While there’s no way to predict what can change in the future, there is a clear need to focus on what we can control now.

For many, this comes in the form of self-care. The term is quite broad in terms of what suffices as “self-care,” but the main component is that it’s meant to improve the quality of your life, whether it’s emotionally, mentally, or physically.

For many, me included, this can be by surrounding yourself with a support system. As a woman, I have found that many of my friends and family were affected, and I heard many times that they are “disappointed” by the results of the election. In this scary moment, we decided to connect with each other and our communities for comfort.

I’ve seen some of my friends going out shopping, taking spa days, staying at home watching their favorite comfort films and engaging in other soothing activities. I decided to take some friends out to dinner, which helped remind us of the connections we have on an individual level, even if we feel disconnected from the society that surrounds us.

While America has its many flaws — with one being its obvious prioritization of monetary profits over the quality of life of its citizens — we still live in a nation that shines in comparison to many other countries. This is why I believe that it is important to try to look at the bright side of things, even when that bright side is more like a candle flame than a patriotic torch.

On the bright side, some people are realizing the importance of activism. In the past week, I’ve seen a rise in discussions around the desire for change, in addition to people looking for ways to address them. Activism is a huge part of our country’s history, and I think that in times like these it’s easy to forget just how powerful we can be in the pursuit of change.

So many things have been obtained through activism and resistance, like the five-day work week, child-labor laws, the ability to vote and many other rights that were not immediately granted to all.

Many changes in America have been due to the unity and power of its people, and I think it is important to realize that sometimes governments count on their citizens to feel hopeless. In these cases, the best resilience to oppressive systems can be by simply holding onto the hope that things can one day get better.

This has been a challenging time for many, but if there’s one thing that defines America’s citizens, it’s resilience. I believe we have the power to improve the world for future generations, as long as we remain determined. Money should never outweigh the well-being of others, and our shared humanity is what’s truly priceless. My hope is that we learn to value each other for who we are, rather than measuring people by what they can offer.

This article appeared in print on Page 9 of Vol. LVIII Issue VII, published Nov. 18, 2024.