Jessai Flores

I knew I was coming to a country in the middle of a storm. Since the start of the year I’ve been watching the American election unfold from back home in Canada. Shaped by news headlines and social media clips, I pictured the U.S. as a nation full of bold opinions, loud debates and divisive beliefs. So when I came here in August, I thought I knew what to expect.

Nothing, however, could have prepared me for the all-out fervor of experiencing the U.S. election firsthand. 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve idly witnessed the growing tension around campus. In my own dorm I’ve watched my suitemates go head-to-head on issues like gun control and immigration. My friends have voiced their hopes, fears and their reasons for leaning left or right. I began to see the friction that painted America as a nation on the edge. The issues that before I’d only seen debated on TV were now real, immediate and intensely personal.

At first, I’d looked forward to election night like some kind of movie premiere. But as the day got closer, I began to dread the coming reality of all the brewing anxieties. My friend offered to host a watch party, and we went all out. We made a bingo card, bought a buffet worth of snacks and even thought up some creative drink options, coming together for something that couldn’t end up being more divisive. When I showed up and saw the varied reactions and the mix of blue and red solo cups scattered around the room, I truly grasped how politically diverse my group of friends was. I hoped perhaps this could be an opportunity for a non-partisan gathering — which I quickly realized would not be happening. 

The room felt like a heartbeat, a pulse of something deeply meaningful — loud and utterly alive. Between the waning snacks and drinks and the laughter that gave way to heated debate, there was a palpable pressure weighing on everyone. People weren’t just watching the TV, but checking their phones and laptops at the same time, scrolling through every news outlet they could find. 

I felt a strange sense of guilt, I was witnessing something so significant all the while knowing I could escape the consequences by merely hopping on a plane. Yet, I also began to feel a deep sense of connection, drawn into the political fray with every other impassioned word I overheard. By the end of the night I laid bare my beliefs with as much enthusiasm as everyone else in the room, tapping into the very divisiveness I’d perceived of America. 

As the night wore on and the mounting tension bred more inflamed opinions, what started as a lighthearted debate quickly devolved into a volatile argument. People weighed in on policies, morals, values, futures — it felt as if everything was at stake. It’s safe to say some feelings were hurt that night. People trickled in as others stormed out, some took shots of celebration while others topped off their drinks in defeat. Some voices in the room argued that the entire democratic system was a pointless failure — an opinion I’d heard echoed around campus leading up to the election. However, I couldn’t help but feel that what I’d seen told a different story. 

For all the people I met who voiced disillusionment with the system or a reluctance to vote, I encountered countless more who went the extra mile to engage in their democracy. Over the past few weeks, my friends spent their fall break canvassing, volunteered hours for phone banking or dedicated their days to rallying others to vote. I saw the passion with which people ensured their vote was heard — stories of waiting in line for hours, or one friend who, when her mail in ballot didn’t arrive in time, took a train to Philadelphia to cast her vote in person. The commitment and excitement for democracy that I witnessed over the past few weeks transcended any of my preconceptions about America. Beneath the surface of this divided nation is the unbreakable conviction of people who firmly believe the future is in their hands. 

While the results were not as rosy as I’d hoped for, and the campus Wednesday morning was the most somber I’ve seen it, I couldn’t help but reflect on the enthusiasm that led up to this. For every bit of palpable uncertainty in the air, I was comforted by the genuine dedication my peers had demonstrated. While I’d expected the heated debates, extreme opinions and general strife, I hadn’t expected the unshakeable hope and responsibility that would shine through it all.  

I’ve learned that America, for all its complexities, is a place where people truly care. The passion with which I’ve seen people engage in politics on both sides has shown me the profound sense of civic duty that many Americans hold. If there’s one takeaway I’ve had from experiencing this election as an outsider, it’s that America isn’t best characterized by divisiveness but by dedication, spirit and hope.