All across the nation, people patiently awaited the final results of the 2016 Presidential Election. Whether you were watching one of several news station’s coverages or refreshing various internet pages, you were probably on the edge of your seat, feeling a sense of anxiety as you watched the numbers rise and fall.

Around 6:45 a.m Eastern Time, the first votes came in, showing Donald Trump in a very early lead over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, winning over the voters of three New Hampshire precincts by a 32-25 margin. Throughout the course of the day, both candidates got a taste of what it felt like to be in the lead.

In the end, Republican candidate Donald J. Trump was elected as the 45th President of the United States in what some people would call a stunning pinnacle of an explosive campaign that took relentless aim at the institutions and long-held ideologies of American democracy.

Trump’s election provoked several emotions within the American people. Some were happy, while others felt uncertainty, but no matter who you are, Trump’s victory was a huge shock. Even Trump’s supporters seemed certain of a Democratic victory. The shock, along with several other factors, were the spark of various protests and social media feuds within the days following the election. Some of the top trending topics on Twitter became “#TrumpProtest”, “#NotMyPresident” and “Impeach Donald Trump”, while others tweeted their personal opinions on the topics.

In response, several citizens began protesting Donald Trump before he’s even had a day in office. Their activities included urinating on, burning and defecating on the United States flag, blocking the entrances to Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan and marching the streets of several large cities, chanting various phrases and carrying signs.

Several celebrities spoke their mind, such as Captain America himself, Chris Evans, who tweeted “This is an embarrassing night for America. We’ve let a hatemonger lead our great nation. We’ve let a bully set our course. I’m devastated.”

Others took a more positive approach, such as former Twilight star, Kristen Bell, who said “No matter who wins, my offer still stands. Can we PLEASE all be friends again in the morning? #TeamHuman”

Walking through the halls here at Alliance High School, you could tell that the majority of students were supporting Donald Trump. When asked for his views on the election, AHS Junior, Cheney O’Connor replied, “I’m glad he won because he wants to rebuild our military, get immigration under control, and dig coal. I am also glad he won because he wants to reunify the country.”

It can be very hard for us to see where the unsteady feelings of some Americans stem from. When I had asked for her stance on the election, college student, Kaylynn Wohl, located in Phoenix, Arizona, gave me one of the best answers I had received. She stated, ”I’m personally concerned for my own safety regarding the influence Trump has on men and how they will treat me and all other women. As a small, blonde female within a big city, I am already fearful when I walk down the streets alone because I am the perfect target for men with the worst intentions. The fact that a public figure with multiple pending rape charges, who thinks it’s okay to degrade women makes me nervous that more men will think it’s okay to reciprocate that behavior.” Wohl went on to speak of the effects this election has had on friends of hers. “My black friends are already having white Trump supporters drive by yelling racist, derogatory terms at them. My trans friends no longer feel valid.”

Donald Trump is expected to take office on January 20, 2017. Since his election, he has remained calm and the several remarks that blew his campaign out of the water, have subsided. His victory over Clinton has cast an uneasy feeling over the United States of America, but how can we judge his capabilities before we even give him a chance in office? Trump addressed the protesters in a tweet sent out in the early morning hours of November 11th saying, “Love the fact that the small group of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud.”

It was best said by Abraham Lincoln in his second Inaugural Address. “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds”.

I leave you with this… United we stand, divided we fall. Remember that, America…