Niki McClure, Managing Editor

Donald Trump’s win was shocking for many, including myself. Concerns about the continuation of the government and our country have been raised following the announcement of Trump’s victory.

However, there is an explanation for the results and a way to get past the decision, if you did not support Trump.

Two major electoral vote contributors, Florida and Texas, gave Trump a head start towards the top of the polls.

Locally, Pennsylvania usually comes out as Democratic because of the major urban areas of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Erie. However, Erie unexpectedly came out as a Republican majority, ruining the typical takeover of what is nicknamed “Pennsyltucky,” the center of the state.

Those 20 electoral votes went to Trump late in the race and, by that point, gave him the win. Arizona’s 11 electoral votes contributed to the late race turnover as well because it was projected to vote Democratic this year due to the high population of Latinos in that state who did not agree with many of Trump’s comments.

Trump’s success in Western Pa. may have been foreseen in Penn-Trafford High School’s recent mock election.

P-T hosted a mock election that revealed 57.1 percent of high school students supported Trump, 25.3 percent supported Hillary Clinton, 12.2 percent supported Gary Johnson, 1.7 percent supported Jill Stein and 4.6 percent supported other candidates. So, 43.8 percent of the school did not embrace the results of this presidential election. 

This is a minority, but significant nonetheless. As young citizens voting for the first time, many were strong in their opinion and passionate for the candidate they supported.

I, personally, was not a Trump supporter throughout the campaigns, but as President he will receive my respect. As difficult as it may seem, keeping an open mind about Trump’s leadership and plans for the country is crucial.

Despite his lack of filter, Trump is an educated man who has been well exposed to the business world. For two years, he went to Fordham University and then enrolled in Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy league school.

As an educated individual, he knew foreign affairs are important to the United States. So, Trump visited with many leaders of other nations during the campaign to prepare of the election including Turkey, Russia, Egypt and Mexico. By doing this, he attempted to make up for experience and knowledge that he did not already have.

Trump has experience in the business world, making deals and building companies in his own name. His hotel in Chicago is considered an international hotel where he needed to communicate and coordinate with other nations.

Even though certain companies or developments of his have gone into bankruptcy, he has still managed to keep himself from falling under the failure and has continued on. This is comparable to how America is now handled: Mistakes are made and the nation is still in debt, but the leader of our country is responsible for moving the country forward.

I still have a difficult time getting past the awful comments made by Trump concerning women, Muslims and Hispanics.

Trump has clearly had his negative moments in the public eye.

However, when he needed to be professional, he exceeded that expectation in certain circumstances. His acceptance speech the night he won the election showed nothing but professionalism, with no jokes or insults. Trump made a similar appearance when he met with the Mexican president back in September. Despite his previous derogatory comments towards Hispanics, Trump was respectful and professional in that instance as well.

So, if you do not agree with the way Trump behaves, then you can at least appreciate his public speaking when his professionalism is fully put together. Think of it as admiring a quality he has rather than the man himself.

My point to all of this is that, no matter how you voted, we are all stuck with the outcome. If you still cannot come to some bit of peace after considering these thoughts, you as an American citizen always have a say in the way your government is run, even after the election is over.

Social studies teacher Jason Davis told his students that they should not give up if they feel like the election did not go the way that it should have.

“It’s never over; as a citizen you have the right to write to the legislation and make your voice heard,” Davis said.

Write a letter, peacefully protest, construct a well put together petition for something you feel strongly about — when circumstances seem to be against what you think is right, do something about it and don’t just complain.

Editorial