TRENDING

In the wake of the shocking election results, many have felt unsettled and unsafe due to President-elect Donald Trump's instances of intolerance before and throughout the election cycle.

Sadly, that intolerance does not stop with Mr. Trump—it has spread to schools. This video shows an incident at Royal Oak Middle School in Detroit, Mich., in which some children chanted, “Build the wall!” in the cafeteria, prompting some Latino students to cry.

Why is this upsetting? One of Mr. Trump's main platform plans (which he says will be enacted day one of his presidency) is building a wall on the southern border of the U.S. with Mexico to prevent illegal immigration. He also has demonstrated an intolerance toward Mexicans, remarking that a judge born in America had a "conflict of interest" presiding over a Mr. Trump case because he was of Mexican descent. 

Despite what Mr. Trump has said and what these students say, it is important to remember that no matter how you feel about this election, it's never OK to spread this type of hatred, or allow it to be spread.

Fear of acts similar to those at Royal Oak have prompted many high schools and colleges to create safe spaces for conversations, vigils and grieving platforms for their students, according to The College Fix. Diversity, multicultural and LGBTQ+ centers have offered spaces for gathering around the country for those who wanted to connect with others and/or have felt distressed or unsafe (and many have—the Suicide Prevention Hotline received an "unprecedented" number of calls between 1 and 2 a.m. Wednesday after the election results came in).

On Wednesday, the University of Michigan Flint sent three different emails in five hours to inform students about counseling centers and other resources if they needed them. At George Mason University, the university's president informed students of a “healing space” on campus after the election. Johns Hopkins University's president acted similarly that day, informing students of a "healing circle" hosted that night and provided advice for how to care for one another. The counseling center at the school also reminded students of its hours. 

If you are one of the many in distress, remember this: This result may not have been the one that you wanted, or the one you even expected, but your feelings are valid. It might be hard to remember that as you talk to your friends and family who have differing opinions—especially if you feel so strongly about your own—but if you follow these tips, you can have strong, insightful discussions with those around you and maybe even learn a little something along the way.

1. Be kind. Nothing good can come from insulting another person. Stay level-headed, keep your language civil and focus on the points you’re making. 

2. Be open-minded. It’s always good in a discussion to put yourself in the other person’s shoes—that could not be more true during this time. Not all of us have the same backgrounds, families or experiences and such qualities will affect how people make their decisions and form opinions.

3. Move forward. In the end, we often can’t change our friend’s minds on such serious issues, and changing the result of this election is certainly not a feasible goal. All we can do now is remember that love trumps hate and use any pain we may feel to fuel positive change.

Mr. Trump wants to make America great again and, as Hillary Clinton noted in her concession speech, "we owe him an open mind and a chance to lead." If we come together in love and unity, we can make that happen.

How are you fueling positive change this week? How do you feel about the result of the election? Sound off in the comments below.

by Amy Garcia | 11/11/2016