I came to the United States to broaden my horizons, grow professionally and personally, and learn from diverse perspectives. Now, as a junior at Knox College, I’ve had conversations with students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds—cultures, races, genders, and abilities. These discussions have helped me understand how our identities shape the way we perceive the world.

This understanding became especially relevant during the 2024 U.S. presidential election. I’ve noticed that regardless of someone’s political stance, the election sparks conversations, often leading to deep divisions. I’ve spoken with people holding opposing views, some who avoid talking to each other, others who claim neutrality. What stands out to me is the lack of tolerance and the absence of respectful dialogue. In my experience, I’ve seen heated arguments, broken relationships, and anonymous threats. Yet, genuine conversations—where people seek to understand one another—are rare. I believe you can’t change someone’s mindset without first understanding where they’re coming from.

Going into the elections at Knox College, I sensed trepidation in the air. As students were being bussed to the polls or mailing in their ballots, the anxiety about the outcome was building up. As an international student, the decisions made by one of the most powerful nations in the world impact me in many ways. I recently wrote a reflection for my macroeconomics class about how the fiscal and monetary policies set by the U.S. government impact the exchange rates for currencies, which impacts how expensive it is for me to study here. If this is where I decide to work in the future, the outcome of this election impacts the feasibility of finding a job. Further, I think the chosen president sets the tone of the country and I need to remind myself of the world that I want to live in. Do I want to live in a country where half the population despises the other half? Where do I get caught in the crossfire?

To combat some of my apprehension, I went to an election watch party hosted by the political science department, where students could come, eat pizza, and talk about the polls and elections while awaiting the results. It made me feel like I was not alone. Being in a room full of people helped me release some of that initial uneasiness that I was feeling. We are in this together.

As I talked with students, I was surprised by how students used the knowledge gained from classes at Knox to analyze the political atmosphere and then hold thoughtful conversations critically. Kyra Kellog ’25 told me how helpful it was to hear from professors like Thomas Bell who taught in her Issues in Contemporary Elections class.

This feeling was further emphasized when Knox hosted the post-election debrief at the HOPE Center. Facilitated by students on campus, we gathered together to dialogue about the results of the elections and process them in a safe space. We shared the idea of wanting to take a step back. But we also pointed out that you cannot be heard if you do not hear others. We talked about how social media impacts the way that people perceive the socioeconomic conditions that surround them and how while it can be informative, it can also be limiting. Being able to have civil dialogue and delve into the roots of the issues faced by students without feeling scrutinized for having opinions or being forced to change them, felt good. Forming connections with students who had different viewpoints by simply listening helped me focus on what is important—more than who won and who didn’t—but thinking of how we can support each other, work together, and be there for each other.

While we have our differences and have our arguments, we ultimately all can ground ourselves, reflect, and continue to use the tools that we have to make the best decision for ourselves. I hope that we as a community can think of how our choices impact others and use our voices not to hurt, but to speak up for what we believe in. We use our humanity to be passionate, empathetic, and kind—to listen and to learn. Most importantly, we use the education that we receive to take what we learn and spread that forward.