The 2024 presidential election was one of the most anticipated elections in U.S. history. After much buzz on social media, millions of donations, and enthusiastic opinions from both sides, a winner was finally declared. Many were thrilled by the results while others were disheartened, even frightened at what it meant for the future of the United States and democracy. It is the latter I choose to address.

My message is for those who may believe that we are living in the worst times: this is not the end of the world. There is talk of the implementation of regressive policies, some which would threaten women’s right to bodily autonomy.  There is rampant misinformation being spread about specific groups of people to sway legislation on migrants. For many, this is enough to completely lose hope in what America was claimed to be: a democratic land of opportunity. After all, in this modern age, we are supposed to be more progressive than the previous generations.

But this is not the first time that the citizens of the United States—or even the world—has had a morose outlook on the future. This is not the first time that a president has lacked equitable interests. There has and always will be obstacles in the road of any civilization. The future is always uncertain, but the past or present shouldn’t sway you to prematurely determine life’s outlook or to generalize. Instead, it’s best to take a step back. The most important thing to worry about during taxing times is to take care of your mental health. Talk to a counselor or loved ones about how you’re feeling. Do things that make you happy or distract you such as meditating, listening to music, or watching your favorite videos. Realize that these outlets, as well as everything in life, required a lot of effort to perfect to its final form.

Politics is included in this. Every country has its shortcomings and merits during its lifetime. These changes are inevitable but impermanent. As such, it’s vital to not let shortcomings deter anyone from becoming and/or continuing to be active in politics. In many states, including my own, many voters who registered did not vote in the presidential election. There was also a lot of misinformation amongst my peers surrounding the candidates and declarations that their votes didn’t matter. That is not true in the slightest. Past activists suffered and died for African Americans to have the right to vote therefore it is vital that the people go out to vote. This can greatly benefit communities with minimal resources.

Everyone should put their best foot forward to stay up to date with politics—or at least the candidates and their policies for both local and federal positions—to become better citizens and make this country a fairer and more respectable place. This also means that you should be vocal when it comes to potentially harmful legislation to improve communities. Protesting, raising awareness on social media, raising funds for good causes—these are only a few of the things we can do to promote a fairer society.