I voted for the first time in my life this year. 

I thought that voting was going to be some sort of life-changing feeling, but it wasn’t. The act of filling out the various bubbles was slightly annoying and tedious—not life-changing. 

So why do some people describe the feeling of voting as a joyous and fulfilling experience?

While I was in the Deland voting booth, I was asking myself that question. But an hour after voting, I understood what people meant.

I was driving back to Millikin, and all I could think about was the history of presidential candidates. 

There’s George Washington, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. As those names ran through my head, I smiled.

I was honored to have the privilege to vote for a woman in my first presidential election—a mixed-race woman at that. 

I had a voice and voted for the person I think is most qualified. After voting, I finally realized that I am a contributing member of America. 

When I arrived at Millikin, I saw a sea of “I voted” stickers. Millikin students were voting, and maybe some of them felt like me. 

After my long day of work and homework, I went home and obsessively watched election updates. 

I went to bed early that night because the red mirage was stressing me out. I hoped that when I woke up, I would see the blue shift. 

At 5 in the morning, I woke up from a terrifying text from my mother in our family group chat.

“I love you girls,” she said. “I hope you know we are all going to be okay.”

My heart sank. I knew what that text meant. 

Donald Trump was going to be the 47th President of the United States. 

What does this mean for me, my mom, my sister, my grandma, my sorority siblings, and my marginalized friends?

Nothing good. 

I spent all day on Wednesday feeling enraged, sad, and defeated. I was getting texts from my sister and mother, who were also in disbelief. By the end of the day, I was exhausted. 

But as I was doom-scrolling TikTok, I saw that the election was not all bad for Democrats. There are small victories that still need celebrating. 

For one, many people who voted for the first time were able to vote for a mixed-race woman for president. 

Sarah McBride made history as the first out transgender person to be elected to Congress. 

For the first time in history, two black women will serve in the Senate at the same time. Delaware Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester and lifelong Marylander—and Prince George’s County Executive—Angela Alsobrooks are both projected to be in the Senate. 

Andy Kim made history as the first Korean American to be elected to the Senate.

Washington State Senator Emily Randall and Texas State Representative Julie Johnson made history as the first openly LGBTQIA+ people to represent their states in Congress. 

Arizona, Missouri, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, and Colorado approved ballot measures that will protect or enshrine abortion rights into their state constitutions. 

Alaska and Missouri approved ballot measures that will raise the minimum wage and require employers to provide paid sick time to their workers. 

If you do some more searching, I’m sure there are more victories that Democrats need to celebrate. 

This election did not work out for Democrats; Donald Trump won. We are allowed to be mad, sad, disappointed, and all of the other feelings. But we cannot dismiss that we had some victories.

So please, feel your feelings. Take care of yourself. 

But remember, there were small victories.

“Do not despair,” Vice President Harris said. “This is not a time to throw up our hands. This is a time to roll up our sleeves. This is a time to organize, to mobilize, and to stay engaged for the sake of freedom and justice and the future that we all know we can build together.”