Week 1

We are one week into the second Trump Administration. How did we get here…again?

In his first few days in office, he has signed 100+ executive orders that will have serious consequences on Americans and affect the United States’ standing as a global superpower. Among the most detrimental actions include revoking birthright citizenship for children of immigrants, pardoning the violent January 6th insurrectionists, withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), and rescinding DEI programs. These orders will have severe consequences on the economic, social, and political strength of our country.

And while all this is going on, California is on fire, it's snowing on the beaches in Florida, inland North Carolina is recovering from a deadly hurricane, and Midwestern winters continue to get warmer by the year. And what does he do to help? Withdraws from the Paris Climate Agreement.

I want to be very clear. As someone with a degree in political science, I strongly believe in the democratic process. The American people used their right to vote and chose him to lead this country, and I will recognize that decision but will not respect it. Millions of Americans voted for a felon in the hopes that he would put a few more dollars in their pockets. As a 23 year old, I understand how difficult it is to stay afloat in this economy, but I physically cannot understand how greedy people can be that they can look at the 2 options we had and think Trump was the better option to lead this country in this ever-changing world.

So as we enter this very scary, uncertain, dark time in our country, I want to recognize and appreciate the leaders we just said goodbye to. To the Biden/Harris Administration, thank you.

Thank you for serving this country with love, respect, and dignity. Thank you for fighting to build a country where ALL belong. While your successors were taking away rights and instilling fear, you went to volunteer for the victims of the California fires. You hugged your families. You reminded people of your love of this country.

To Joe, you have dedicated your life to the service of this country; 50+ years of fighting for the underprivileged. Even during tremendous moments of personal grief, you have shown up for the American people again and again. You have been the common denominator of the nations first federally elected people of color, Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. That’s one hell of a legacy to leave and I am honored that, for the rest of my life, I get to say that you were the first President I voted for.

To Kamala, thank you for being a source of joy and hope and representation for millions across the country. I am fortunate, as a white person, to have had my race represented in the Oval Office for a majority of this nations history. But seeing a woman, a demographic I am proud to belong to, at the right hand of the President for the first time was an impactful and meaningful moment in my life. You inspired me to major in political science and pursue a career in using the tremendous amount of privilege I was born with to help those less fortunate. I have yet to vote for a presidential ticket that does not include your name on it, and I look forward to (hopefully) filling in that oval next to your name again in 2028.

I have hope for this country. And I believe that we will get through these next 4 years and emerge with a renewed sense of purpose and having learned many lessons. As Kamala so eloquently paraphrased MLK, “Only when it is dark enough can we see the stars…let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars.” So I will look to the stars, the little glimmers of hope, and continue fighting the good fight, because I believe in the constellation that is the United States of America.

Always

~

authentic, ambitious, & aptly adventurous