The United States displayed, as it has since 1788, an uncanny and unmatched ability to allow the people of this great nation to have a voice. A majority — slight, but a majority nonetheless — of this voice and myself did not see eye to eye. As a result, receiving the news of Mr. Trump’s victory has left me with a heavy heart. In light of November 8th’s events, there are many things I feel I need to say to various people across America.

First and foremost, to President Obama:

Thank you. As of now, you have officially entered the “lame-duck” period of your presidency, a realization which has brought tears to my eyes on multiple occasions. The progress our nation has made in these last eight years with you at the helm is staggering. From halving unemployment from 2009 to today while doubling the Dow Jones Industrial Index over the same time period, you have left our economy notably stronger than you received it. Your status as an African American has given minority children across America the courage and motivation to believe that they too can succeed. The rights and opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community are light-years ahead of where they were on the day you were elected. You have changed countless Americans’ lives for the better, and I would have given anything for you to have a third term. For all that you have done, thank you, to my favorite president to date, Mr. Barack Obama.

A very close second in importance, to Hillary Clinton:

Hillary, you deserve nearly as much of a thank you as Mr. Obama. You shattered the ceiling that once existed over females in America. You were the first female to run as a candidate for a major party. I have seen you transform into my younger sister’s role model and beacon of hope over these last few months, as I’m sure you have for young girls across the nation. Admittedly, in the primary elections, I hoped Senator Sanders would receive the Democratic nomination. Since then, however, I have watched you run a brilliant campaign, centered on love and acceptance for all people regardless of their demographics against a campaign built on just the opposite. I have watched you stand up for yourself and refuse to be bullied or belittled by a male on national and international television. Although I am not yet 18, had I been eligible to vote, you would have received mine, Mrs. Clinton; not because I am a Democrat, not because you are “a lesser of two evils,” but because you earned it.

To President-elect Donald Trump:

Congratulations. You were able to defeat the establishment of the current political system, and that deserves recognition. Our views on issues both foreign and domestic have yet to be aligned, and I doubt they ever will. You were one of the last people I would have ever wished to see as President of the United States. As of today, however, you are. I love my country; I am unhappy with the decision it made, but I love America nevertheless. As a result, I have no choice but to accept you as our president. I ask, however, that you put aside your own personal beliefs, and follow the values upon which America was built. Known as a “melting pot,” America was built by immigrants. American culture is, and has always been, a blend of countless cultures. Please do not allow fear of the unknown to cause you to find scapegoats in this country. Remember that America’s enemy is not the people living peacefully inside its borders, and they are just as American as you and me. Please, prove me wrong. Make America great again. I will be the first American to admit that I was wrong. But please, don’t be the president I think you’re about to be.

To minorities in America:

I’m sure you are feeling incredibly scared. The progress that you have seen made in the last eight years — not enough, but a start — is on the verge of disappearing before your eyes. Despite this fear, which is incredibly understandable, I ask you to have faith in the American people: your neighbors, classmates, co-workers, and friends. There are still millions of Americans who truly respect and care about you and your wishes and your rights. Know too, that the GOP is filled with some of the brightest politicians in the nation, and I have faith the Senate and House will not let blatantly discriminatory acts through Congress. The American way of life, despite what this election may imply, is not built on hatred. I implore you, however, not to give up the fight. Black lives do matter. LGBTQ+ rights do matter. Continue to preach your cases, and while the legislation may not be passed this year or next year, I promise you your words will not fall on deaf ears.

To millennials in America:

I understand. The majority of us voted for Hillary, and the majority of our elders voted for Trump. This may have been foreshadowed when Britain voted to leave the EU. In the majority of our eyes, this problem will be dumped upon us down the road and we will be the ones responsible for fixing it. We cannot, however, give up our fight. This election proved the American people have a voice. With less than half of the US population turning out to vote, it also proved you need to take advantage of the opportunity our country grants us. In four years time, it will once again be our turn to address the needs of our country. Do not lose faith in designing a better country for us to live in.

To those who wrote in a candidate:

Why? Was it worth it? Could you really not contribute to this election? Over 700,000 Americans submitted a write-in candidate in this election, in which the popular vote was decided by only 150,000. If you used your write-in vote to vote for an individual not running whom you thought was deserving of the presidency (i.e. Bernie Sanders, Mitt Romney, etc.), this is somewhat understandable. If you wrote in “Harambe,” however, who managed to receive 11,000 votes, I question your respect for America. Many countries on this Earth do not grant their citizens the right to contribute to their government. The American democracy has defined our country throughout its history; by wasting this right, you are slapping America in the face. I beg of you that in the next election, you do not take your rights as an American for granted.

And lastly, and most importantly, to the American public:

In this portion of my letter, I no longer use any qualifiers. These words go out to Americans: black or white, rich or poor, Christian or Muslim, straight or gay, educated or uneducated. Remember, at the end of the day, the people of America are just that: people. They may be different from you, some in countless ways, but that doesn’t change the fact they are human. As we saw last year, love wins. The only thing capable of making sure love continues to win is how we as Americans conduct ourselves moving forward. I understand that some people may be opposed to homosexuality due to their religion. But does a homosexual couple, two individuals who love each other and want to spend their lives together, really have such a massive effect on your life? Does the fact that they feel attracted to someone different than what you think is “normal” really make them inferior? It shouldn’t; if you are truly an American who truly endorses American values, you should allow these people to obtain the same rights as you. I understand that some people may feel as though immigrants are hurting our country. But does an immigrant who is working 18 hours a day to feed their toddler dinner every night, while following all the laws of America and contributing to society and the US economy, truly deserve to be forced out of this country? Should we not, as the beacon of hope in the world, encourage people to make their livings here? I understand that some people may feel as though the religion of Islam is endangering US lives. But is a peaceful Muslim, as the vast majority are, who detests and rejects the inexcusable acts of ISIS just as much as you do deserve to be tailed and tracked by police on a daily basis? Should they be forced to fear the government and police of their own country? We Americans should be able to see past differences in people, and we should be able to love another because we are all American.

As of today, Donald Trump is the next president of the United States. While his platform called for major changes to the American life under Obama, we as American people may be able to ensure the rights of Americans are still safe. Thirteen percent of all voters (who responded to exit polls) voted for Trump because they disliked the other candidates. Over half of the United States decided not to vote. There are plenty of Americans who can ensure Donald Trump makes changes to the American lifestyle without conducting as drastic and extreme measures as he has promised. I beg of you Americans, for the next four years, remember that a human being is a human being, and an American is an American. Love will always win. Think about if it was your neighbor.

God Bless America, where all humans are created equal.