A black female. A young black female. For me, voting was taking a stand in a minor – yet such a major – way and using my voice in different ways that most people wouldn’t even consider.

Being a first time voter, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I was excited but scared, and the scariest part for me was walking into the voting area. I saw the ballot and I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know there would be this many words on the ballot. I’m thinking “oh I walk in and just scribble one name and be done” but boy was I wrong – the ballot consist of several different candidates with several other questions and candidates I knew nothing about.

This was the worst feeling for me because I knew deep down if I bubbled incorrectly someone who did not deserve to be empowered would. This was definitely one of the moments I will never forget. I now know that I can take the booklet I receive in the mail and research my answers for all candidates and questions. As a first-time voter, I wish someone would have suggested that, and I would suggest it for other people voting for the first time. 

I planned on early voting but due to sports and college visits and research, I didn’t have the time for it. This election was NOT easy for me, and keeping up with both candidates was hard, especially when I disagreed with both candidates.

One candidate openly commented about sexual assault and went on record saying things that are racist. The other candidate was someone I didn’t trust. But in all honesty, anyone would have been better than Trump. I’ve never been so disappointed in my country – this country is a joke for putting a man who is a racist and a terrorist in office.

This is absolutely one of the most short-sighted decisions people in this nation could have made. The fact that history has a habit of repeating itself is so disappointing to me as a black woman. So many people fought to get us to where we are right now and it’s like we squandered their progress. I’m not for the man in office. He is NOT my president, he didn’t get my vote, and I would never give away my freedom for him.